The Oakland A’s might have added a massive snag to their potential relocation to Las Vegas. They requested to play 10% of home games at away sites.
Every MLB team that has gotten a new stadium agreed to three games at neutral sites per season at most. This includes Miami, Atlanta, and Texas. The Oakland A’s on the other hand want to play eight home games at neutral sites per season, which could severely impact how much funding they will be able to get for the Vegas stadium.
Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval stated that the team wants to build up a brand outside of Vegas. The stadium is expected to cost $1.5 billion and the team was looking for $380 million in public funds. In addition, A’s Owner John Fisher has been asking for public investors to help fund over $500 million to help with the stadium.
How will this situation resolve itself?
The Oakland A’s Relocation Already Isn’t Popular
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The A’s might have created a new hurdle for the team to overcome to get this stadium done. There have been fan protests, lawsuits, and an overall lack of interest in even having the team relocate there over having an expansion team instead. Having the A’s relocation fall through might not be the worst thing for either side.
There has always been rampant speculation on whether the relocation to Las Vegas will even happen. Adding more obstacles isn’t a wise idea, but A’s ownership has not gone about this move in a wise way from the start.
Will This Stop the Oakland A’s From Moving To Vegas?
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There are already a lot of numbers and details that have been constantly changing regarding the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas. It’s created a massive cloud of doubt that the relocation to Las Vegas will even happen. The inability to find financial backing for the move even after the MLB-approved relocation is troubling.
Why would any city agree to finance helping build a stadium for a team that is looking to build a fanbase anywhere but inside the city they’re looking to move to? Losing 10% of home game revenue is massive.
Will Sacramento or Utah Step Up Now?
With the possibility of the stadium deal falling through, we could look to see other cities step up for the A’s to move there. John Fisher seems determined to leave the city of Oakland by any means and will not be denied. As a result, it is possible we could see either Sacramento, California or the state of Utah step up to lure them in.
The A’s will be playing from 2025-2028 with an option for 2029 in Sacramento and have trademarks for the city. The state of Utah is also looking to gain an MLB team. Both could pursue the A’s if funding for the Vegas stadium falls through.
Las Vegas Doesn’t Need the A’s
The city of Las Vegas doesn’t need the Oakland A’s. They have the Raiders, Aces, and Golden Knights in the city already. While the city would like an MLB team, they would be better suited to getting an expansion team. The A’s Triple-A affiliate the Aviators play in the city as well.
Let the A’s either stay in Sacramento or let them move to Utah. It would be better for Las Vegas and better for the league to let Vegas have an expansion team. Not to mention, the A’s haven’t been in a rush to hit any deadlines needed to make the relocation happen.
The A’s On the Field Have Been Better in 2024
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Despite everything that has been going on, something must be said for the players and coaches. The Oakland A’s aren’t the best team, but they’re easily better than last season’s squad. Mason Miller for example has been one of the best closers in baseball.
It’s great that the team is as competitive as they have been. It’s just a shame that it comes as they leave behind their dedicated fanbase. The A’s always go through a cycle of struggle before returning to contention and they’re again on the rise.
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About the Author
Alex is a writer at Total Apex Sports. His interests include gaming, watching movies, and spending time with his girlfriend. He’s a loyal fan of the Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bulls, San Francisco Giants, and the Chicago Blackhawks. You can find him on X at @alex_furtotti.
