by Ray Smith, Exhibit City News
In what’s playing out as a poker game with the city of Oakland, the Major League Baseball A’s have reshuffled the cards in deciding where to build a new 35,000-seat stadium in Las Vegas.
Weeks after signing a “binding” agreement with Red Rock Resorts to acquire 49 acres at Tropicana Avenue and Dean Martin Drive, the team has reportedly struck a deal with Bally’s Corp. to lease 9 acres at the Tropicana hotel and casino on the south end of the Strip. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The public portion of the cost to build the $1.5 billion stadium on the Tropicana site would be reduced to $395 million, from $500 million for the previous site. The Nevada Legislature would need to pass a billsimilar to the financing of Allegiant Stadium.
CULINARY ON BOARD
The A’s now have the blessing of Culinary Union Local 226, which represents some 60,000 hospitality workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including those at Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena. The union has been negotiating with the A’s for more than a year for stadium workers’ right to unionize.
“The Culinary Union and the Las Vegas A’s have reached agreement that will guarantee workers have the right to organize and negotiate union contracts which will guarantee these will be great jobs that meet our high Las Vegas standards,” Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge says in a statement released May 12.
“We hope there will be a path forward for all stakeholders so the Las Vegas A’s can join the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Raiders to continue this transformation as Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, also becomes the sporting capital of the world.”
LOOKING FOR A HOME
The Tropicana hotel was among several potential sites being considered for the baseball stadium. The A’s also looked at vacant land known as the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on the north end of the Strip, as well as the Rio hotel and casino. As a last resort, they could share Las Vegas Ballpark, home of their Triple-A affiliate, Las Vegas Aviators.
The team with MLB’s worst record and lowest average attendance has been negotiating for years with city officials to stay in Oakland, where a stadium would be built in the Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal. Those negotiations have reportedly ended.
“We have a timeline of this year to get it sorted out,” A’s President Dave Kaval tells KTNV Las Vegas. “We’re going to continue to work hand in hand with key elected officials and hopefully get a final decision by the end of the year.”
No need to rush out and buy your A’s hats and jerseys. The earliest they could play at their Las Vegas stadium is 2027, and this saga could be drawn out for years beyond.
