From who will own the new ballpark to how it will be financed, we tackle some of the most important questions about the Athletics’ planned move to Las Vegas.
Baseball
The Oakland Athletics have landed several endorsements from various Southern Nevada chambers of commerce supporting the MLB team’s potential move to Las Vegas.
People in California’s Bay Area aren’t shy about sharing their feelings on the Oakland Athletics’ planned move to Las Vegas, especially regarding owner John Fisher.
“When the Knights came here, they were born here. They’re like a little baby,” Jeff Evtushek said. “These other teams who come here, it’s like adopting a 50-year-old man.”
The Athletics are baseball’s biggest losers at the betting windows. If a bettor wagered $100 on Oakland in every game this season, they would be down $1,072.
Rob Manfred also said the Oakland Athletics would field a competitive team if the franchise were to relocate to Las Vegas.
The plan, to trot out a noncompetitive team in hopes of getting a sweet new stadium in a tourist-friendly market, didn’t exactly work out in the movie.
Aviators president Don Logan said the natural grass field at Las Vegas Ballpark couldn’t take the beating of more than 150 games a season if the Athletics also played there.
The MLB team proposes a special tax district, which would require the approval of lawmakers, to help finance a stadium near the Strip.
It will be interesting to see if the worst team in baseball is serious about spending money for the on-field product more than it has in forever.
One of the most frequently asked questions is about the fate of the Aviators — the A’s Triple-A affiliate. A’s President Dave Kaval noted the two teams would coexist in the valley.
“For a while we were on parallel paths (with Oakland), but we have turned our attention to Las Vegas to get a deal here for the A’s and find a long-term home,” A’s President Dave Kaval told the Review-Journal on Wednesday.
Mason Miller’s meteoric rise to the majors was completed after a brief but impressive showing with the Aviators. Miller made his MLB debut Wednesday against the Cubs.
Bay Area fans hoping the Oakland Athletics don’t go the way of the Raiders and end up in Las Vegas are looking to pack the stands for one night this summer at RingCentral Coliseum.
UNLV baseball has produced some top-tier talent. Here’s the Review-Journal’s top 5 players in program history, led by Matt Williams.
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