Las Vegas has transformed into a burgeoning hub for professional sports, with the arrival of teams like the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights boosting the city’s economy by an estimated $1.7 billion annually through tourism, job creation, and local business revenue. Now, the Oakland Athletics are stepping up to the plate, breaking ground on a $1.75 billion stadium on the former Tropicana Hotel site, a move that promises to further electrify the Strip and cement Las Vegas as a major league destination.
A New Chapter for the Athletics
On June 23, 2025, under a desert sun tempered by a giant air-conditioned tent, Athletics owner John Fisher, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, and a cadre of local dignitaries plunged gold shovels into the dirt at the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. The ceremony marked the official groundbreaking for the A’s new 33,000-seat, fixed-roof ballpark, set to open for the 2028 MLB season. The site, once home to the iconic Tropicana Hotel—a 67-year-old casino resort reduced to rubble in a 22-second implosion on October 9, 2024—now serves as the foundation for a stadium that aims to redefine the fan experience with a transparent glass outfield wall offering views of the Strip and innovative under-seat cooling to combat Nevada’s scorching summers.
The Athletics’ journey to Las Vegas has been a saga of twists and turns. Founded in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics, the franchise moved to Kansas City in 1955, then to Oakland in 1968, where it called the aging Oakland Coliseum home for 57 seasons. Despite a storied history boasting nine World Series titles and legends like Rickey Henderson and Vida Blue, the A’s struggled to secure a new stadium in Oakland. Attempts to build at nine different Bay Area sites, including a waterfront project at Howard Terminal, fizzled out amid logistical and financial hurdles. By 2021, MLB approved owner John Fisher’s request to explore relocation, and on November 16, 2023, team owners unanimously greenlit the move to Las Vegas.
The Economic Promise of Baseball on the Strip
Las Vegas has proven itself a fertile ground for professional sports. The Raiders’ move to Allegiant Stadium in 2020 demonstrated the city’s capacity to support major league franchises, with the $2 billion venue generating significant economic activity through tourism and events. The Vegas Golden Knights and WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces have further solidified the city’s sports market, drawing fans from across the globe. Proponents of the A’s stadium argue it will follow suit, creating thousands of jobs—both during construction and after completion—and boosting local businesses, from hotels to restaurants. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority estimates the stadium could contribute hundreds of millions annually to the local economy, much like its predecessors.
The stadium, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group and HNTB, will occupy nine acres of a 35-acre plot owned by Bally’s Corp. Plans include integrating hotels, gaming, and entertainment into the complex, creating a multifaceted destination that aligns with Las Vegas’s brand of spectacle. A retractable roof and climate-controlled environment will ensure comfort for fans, while the stadium’s compact size—MLB’s smallest, though larger than Tropicana Field’s reduced capacity of 25,000—promises an intimate baseball experience. The project’s economic ripple effect is expected to mirror that of Allegiant Stadium, where construction alone employed over 10,000 workers and generated $1.2 billion in economic impact.
Yet, the financial picture isn’t without shadows. The stadium’s cost, initially pegged at $1.5 billion, has ballooned to $1.75 billion, with owner John Fisher recently admitting it could approach $2 billion due to rising construction costs and potential steel tariffs. Nevada’s legislature approved $380 million in public funding in June 2023, a decision that sparked debate over the use of taxpayer money for a private sports franchise. Critics argue the funds could be better spent on public services, while supporters point to the long-term economic benefits of a major league team on the Strip. Even with public backing, reports suggest Fisher may still face a funding gap of approximately $295 million, prompting speculation about his ability to finance the project.
A Controversial Move
The A’s departure from Oakland has left a bitter taste for many fans. The team’s final game at the Oakland Coliseum on September 26, 2024, was a poignant farewell, with players acknowledging a loyal fanbase that staged a “reverse boycott” in 2023, donning green “SELL” T-shirts to protest Fisher’s relocation plans. Christopher Dobbins, president of Save Oakland Sports, voiced the frustration of many: “I’m very disappointed by the A’s management decision to leave the city… It’s equally frustrating that Oakland couldn’t get organized to prevent it.” The move marks the first major American League relocation since 1972 and MLB’s first since 2005, underscoring its seismic impact.
In Las Vegas, skepticism persists about whether the stadium will come to fruition. The Guardian’s Oliver O’Connell questions the fiscal logic of the move, noting that Fisher needed a stadium deal by 2024 to maintain the A’s share of MLB’s revenue-sharing stream—a critical financial lifeline for the franchise. Despite the June 2025 groundbreaking, doubts linger about Fisher’s ability to close the funding gap. Some speculate he could sell assets like the San Jose Earthquakes, his MLS team, or a partial stake in the A’s, whose valuation CNBC pegs at $2 billion, to bridge the shortfall. A potential sale could push the team’s value even higher post-relocation, especially with the revenue streams a Las Vegas stadium could unlock.
The move also raises questions about Las Vegas’s capacity to support another major sports franchise. While the Raiders and Golden Knights have thrived, the city’s transient population and tourism-driven economy pose challenges for building a consistent local fanbase. However, the A’s are banking on the Strip’s allure to draw visitors, much like the Raiders have with Allegiant Stadium. The team’s recent free-agency activity, including a $67 million deal for pitcher Luis Severino, signals an intent to compete and attract attention in their new market.
Construction and Vision
Construction on the stadium began in late April 2025, with foundation work and utility installation underway by the time of the groundbreaking. A’s President Marc Badain, who oversaw the Raiders’ relocation to Las Vegas, emphasized the project’s momentum, noting that concrete pouring started the night of the ceremony. The timeline is ambitious: structural steel and prefabricated exterior walls are expected to be topped out by 2027, with suite finishings, player clubhouses, and the playing field completed that same year. By Opening Day 2028, the stadium aims to be a fully enclosed, state-of-the-art facility.
The design is as bold as Las Vegas itself. A shell-shaped, fixed-roof structure will house a 33,000-seat arena with a cable-net glass facade offering panoramic views of the Strip. Under-seat cooling and a climate-controlled environment will cater to the desert climate, while the integration of hotels and entertainment venues aligns with the city’s ethos of excess and excitement. The project is seen as a potential anchor for a larger casino and hotel complex planned by Bally’s, further embedding the A’s in the fabric of the Strip.
The Road Ahead
As I stood at the groundbreaking ceremony, notebook in hand, the energy was palpable. Little Leaguers mingled with A’s legends like Rollie Fingers and Dave Stewart, while politicians and fans alike buzzed with anticipation. Fisher’s declaration—“We are Vegas’ team”—echoed through the crowd, a bold claim for a franchise still three years from its Sin City sports debut. Yet, the path to 2028 is fraught with challenges. Rising costs, funding uncertainties, and the lingering resentment of Oakland fans cast a shadow over the project.
Still, Las Vegas thrives on bold bets, and the A’s are all-in. The stadium promises to be more than a ballpark; it’s a vision of baseball reimagined for a city that never sleeps. If successful, it could elevate the A’s from a last-place team languishing in a minor league park in West Sacramento—where they’ll play from 2025 to 2027—to a marquee franchise in one of America’s most dynamic cities. The economic impact could rival that of the Raiders, whose Allegiant Stadium has become a beacon for events beyond football, from concerts to international soccer matches.
For now, the A’s are a team in transition, their story unfolding on a nine-acre plot where the Tropicana once stood. As construction vehicles rumble and the Strip’s lights glimmer in the distance, Las Vegas is poised to add another chapter to its ever-evolving narrative. Whether the A’s stadium becomes a home run or a swing and a miss remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: in a city built on spectacle, the Athletics are ready to take their shot.
