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Tuesday, May 16, 2023

A’s reach agreement to develop Las Vegas site for stadium

The Oakland Athletics have reached an agreement with Bally’s and Gaming & Leisure Properties to build a potential stadium on the Tropicana hotel site along the Las Vegas Strip.

Bally’s Corp. made the announcement Monday for a 30,000-seat stadium on the 35-acre site. The project is expected to cost about $1.5 billion, and the A’s are asking for nearly $400 million in public support from the Nevada Legislature, which could vote on a proposal this week.

The A’s previously previously signed an agreement to build a stadium also on Tropicana Avenue but on the other side of Interstate 15 that runs alongside the Strip. They were expected to ask the Legislature for $500 million in public funds for the 49-acre site that would have included much more than a stadium.

The new agreement is a scaled-down proposal, but the location is in closer walking distance for fans who are staying in hotels on the south end of the Strip. “We are excited about the potential to bring Major League Baseball to this iconic location,” A’s president Dave Kaval said in a statement. “We are thrilled to work alongside Bally’s and GLPI, and look forward to finalizing plans to bring the Athletics to Southern Nevada.”

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 16, 2023 at 09:16 AM | 30 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: athletics, las vegas

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   1. Cris E Posted: May 16, 2023 at 10:26 AM (#6128419)
See? The citizens of Las Vegas have already made $100m on this deal! How can they pass up such an opportunity?
   2. DL from MN Posted: May 16, 2023 at 11:31 AM (#6128431)
A brand new stadium that only seats 30,000 seems so weird to me but a baseball stadium is mostly a TV studio anyway. They would be going from the highest capacity stadium to the lowest capacity.
   3. BDC Posted: May 16, 2023 at 11:42 AM (#6128435)
Exactly ... the multi-purpose "ashtray" stadiums of the early 1970s were between 50 and 60,000 for baseball. At the time there didn't seem any point going back to the smaller early-20th-century park capacities.

30,000 is viable now partly, as you say, because it's a TV venue but partly too because there will be no cheap seats. It's Las Vegas, we've already noted that a major component of the crowd will be tourists, even a higher-priced baseball ticket isn't going to look particularly expensive beside the other things one might do there.
   4. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 16, 2023 at 01:48 PM (#6128456)

A brand new stadium that only seats 30,000 seems so weird to me but a baseball stadium is mostly a TV studio anyway.


They say they want to draw 2.5 million but 30k times 81 = 2.43 million so uhhh....
   5. DL from MN Posted: May 16, 2023 at 01:56 PM (#6128458)
They say they want to draw 2.5 million but 30k times 81 = 2.43 million so uhhh....


Must be counting on winning a playoff series every year.
   6. You can keep your massive haul Posted: May 16, 2023 at 01:58 PM (#6128459)
“We are excited about the potential to bring Major League Baseball to this iconic location,” A’s president Dave Kaval said in a statement.


What a weasel
   7. DL from MN Posted: May 16, 2023 at 02:01 PM (#6128460)
Can they transfer the name Tropicana Field from the Rays?
   8. Karl from NY Posted: May 16, 2023 at 03:36 PM (#6128473)
I'd bet that "30,000" figure is really higher, rounded down from 32,800 or something like that.

It's still small by MLB standards, but there's definitely an argument for that here. Vegas doesn't have a ton of residents and nearly zero metropolitan or regional area to draw attendance from.
   9. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: May 16, 2023 at 03:49 PM (#6128474)
I'd bet that "30,000" figure is really higher, rounded down from 32,800 or something like that.

It's still small by MLB standards, but there's definitely an argument for that here. Vegas doesn't have a ton of residents and nearly zero metropolitan or regional area to draw attendance from.


Where it hurts you is in the playoffs. Having an extra 15-20,000 seats a night to sell for $75 (plus all the parking and concessions) is real money.
   10. base ball chick Posted: May 16, 2023 at 04:39 PM (#6128484)
are folks in vegas for gambling drinking and strippers/sex workers/unpaid new sexual partners really gonna leave the casinos and wander down the 100+ degree street to see a baseball game?

ida know bout that
   11. Walt Davis Posted: May 16, 2023 at 04:46 PM (#6128488)
BBC, it's Vegas. No reason you can't do all that in your seat at the stadium.
   12. The Yankee Clapper Posted: May 16, 2023 at 05:00 PM (#6128492)
No reason you can't do all that in your seat at the stadium.
Such antics would likely only be permissible in the luxury suites, which should help sales a bit.
   13. Walt Davis Posted: May 16, 2023 at 06:29 PM (#6128508)
Dunno. No reason the Mustang Ranch can't be MLB's Official Massage Partner.
   14. The Honorable Ardo Posted: May 16, 2023 at 06:47 PM (#6128513)
The A's should thrive in Vegas. I speak from experience - a baseball game is a great way to temporarily block out one's remorse after making poor life choices.
   15. McCoy Posted: May 16, 2023 at 06:54 PM (#6128515)
Not too long ago Wrigley had a capacity of about 38,000. Didn't seem to hurt them.
   16. The Duke Posted: May 16, 2023 at 07:34 PM (#6128524)
This is similar to having a team in London -there are tons of fans from each major league city there to fill up the place. Now, in theory, this should work in Tampa Bay as well but many of the snowbirds are gone for the regular season
   17. A triple short of the cycle Posted: May 16, 2023 at 10:15 PM (#6128588)
Oooh another agreement. Go A's.
   18. Howie Menckel Posted: May 17, 2023 at 12:32 AM (#6128626)
are folks in vegas for gambling drinking and strippers/sex workers/unpaid new sexual partners really gonna leave the casinos and wander down the 100+ degree street to see a baseball game?

it is generally (but not universally here) agreed that a stunning number of visitors to Las Vegas go mainly for the shopping or the dining (or both), with gambling either a distant third or not even on the table (so to speak).
   19. DL from MN Posted: May 17, 2023 at 11:42 AM (#6128657)
Oooh another agreement. Go A's.


I think they lead the league in agreements this season.
   20. DL from MN Posted: May 17, 2023 at 11:43 AM (#6128658)
it is generally (but not universally here) agreed that a stunning number of visitors to Las Vegas go mainly for the shopping or the dining (or both), with gambling either a distant third or not even on the table (so to speak).


I usually go to visit my relatives but I'm pretty sure most people aren't there to visit my relatives.
   21. Ziggy: social distancing since 1980 Posted: May 17, 2023 at 12:39 PM (#6128664)
Where it hurts you is in the playoffs.


Don't think the A's need to worry much about that.

The best thing that Vegas has going for it is its proximity to lots of cool stuff in the desert. Death Valley isn't far away. The Valley of Fire is even closer. Hoover Dam is right there. It's a few hours to the Grand Canyon, but if you're flying there it's either Vegas or Pheonix.

   22. GregD Posted: May 17, 2023 at 01:50 PM (#6128677)
Don't think the A's need to worry much about that.
THey've been to the playoffs 3 of the last five years (obviously this year will make it 3 of 6) and six of 11.
   23. Traderdave Posted: May 17, 2023 at 02:23 PM (#6128693)
The best thing that Vegas has going for it is its proximity to lots of cool stuff in the desert


Except during the season it's way too hot to do those "cool" things.
   24. A triple short of the cycle Posted: May 17, 2023 at 02:49 PM (#6128705)
I recommend taking the Hoover Dam tour. That was neat.
   25. A triple short of the cycle Posted: May 17, 2023 at 02:49 PM (#6128706)
Double post.
   26. Karl from NY Posted: May 17, 2023 at 02:52 PM (#6128708)
Yeah, gambling is everywhere now, there's no reason to care about Vegas for that. I don't think the dining is special compared to anywhere else either, unless you're fixated on some particular celebrity chef.

What's in Vegas is the tourist landmarks and shows. The times I went that's pretty much what I was doing, plus a day drive out to Hoover Dam. Legal brothels too if that's your thing (not in Vegas proper but whichever unincorporated community allows it.)
   27. The Honorable Ardo Posted: May 18, 2023 at 10:29 PM (#6129007)
The best dining in the U.S. is in Seattle, New Orleans, and Chicago, not in Vegas.
   28. Howie Menckel Posted: May 18, 2023 at 11:26 PM (#6129034)
yes, my list should have included "entertainment" along with shopping and dining (along with gambling in some cases).
   29. Rowland Office Supplies Posted: May 19, 2023 at 10:45 AM (#6129056)
I recommend taking the Hoover Dam tour. That was neat.


"Welcome to what we proudly consider to be the best dam tour in the world." And yes it looked like he died a little inside when he said it.
   30. Jobu is silent on the changeup Posted: May 19, 2023 at 08:26 PM (#6129144)
Rob Manfred's plan to make MLB a wholly-owned subsidiary of the gambling industry is coming along nicely.

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