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If you thought that news that the Athletics were planning a move to Las Vegas would put an end to the constant drama surrounding the search for a new stadium and eventually a new hometown, we fear we have bad news .
The latest in the story was that the A’s had reached an agreement with Bally’s Corporation to build a new ballpark on the Strip near Tropicana, a large resort close to well-known hotels like MGM Grand and New York New York. Of course, that deal also required $395 million in public funding, mostly from taxes.
Can anyone guess where we are going next? I bet you can! About The Nevada Independent:
Nevada lawmakers have yet to pass legislation to bring the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas, as they are only willing to contribute up to $195 million in transferable tax credits to fund stadium construction, not the entire $395 million. Dollars the team is targeting, sources close to negotiations told The Nevada Independent Thursday.
The amount the state will offer depends on how much money Clark County will offer in the form of county-issued bonds paid for by taxes generated on the ballpark’s grounds. Sources added that lawmakers are debating $150 million to $195 million in transferable tax credits, but nothing is set in stone until county details are finalized.
The A’s have been going through this with local governments in the Oakland area for years, and their original request to move to Las Vegas was about $500 million in public funding.
The current plan is for the A’s to arrive in Las Vegas in time for the 2027 season with a shiny new ballpark. Their lease at the Oakland Coliseum runs through 2024, which means it’s possible they’ll play at Las Vegas’ Triple-A Stadium in the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Of course, their move to Las Vegas is far from complete, and the latest hurdle is the argument over how much they can get from the taxpaying public.