The Oakland Athletics are facing criticism over a draft non-relocation agreement that allows them to play up to seven home games outside their proposed $1.5 billion Las Vegas stadium. Attorney and A's fan Jeremy Koo argues this could significantly impact economic and tax revenue projections, estimating losses of $2.6 to $3 million in tax revenue and $65 to $75 million in economic activity annually. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board will discuss the issue in their next meeting on July 18.
The Oakland Athletics, who are planning to move to Las Vegas, have requested to play up to eight home games per season away from their future $1.5 billion Las Vegas ballpark to build their brand and attract players and sponsors. This request, part of a proposed 30-year non-relocation agreement, will be voted on by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority board on July 18. The request may need to be reduced to avoid impacting the team's bonding capacity for stadium construction.
The City of Oakland is reportedly offering the Oakland Athletics a 5-year lease extension to cover the period before their move to a new stadium in Las Vegas, with an opt-out after three years and a nonrefundable $97 million extension fee. The city has dropped many demands from the original draft of the lease extension and is asking MLB to facilitate the sale of the A's to a local ownership group, leave the A's colors and name in Oakland, or give Oakland a "one-year exclusive right to solicit ownership of a future expansion team." The A's have been exploring other options but staying in Oakland would allow them to continue playing in a MLB caliber stadium before moving to Vegas.
The Nevada State Education Association, a teachers union, has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the bill that granted $380 million in public money for a new Las Vegas stadium for the Oakland A's. The lawsuit alleges that the bill violates the state's constitution and did not receive the required two-thirds majority vote in the state's Assembly and Senate. The teachers' union is also pursuing a court battle to bring the funding bill to a public vote through a ballot initiative. The A's hope to have the stadium ready for the 2028 season.
