While Athletics fans’ reverse boycott on Tuesday night reminded fans of the old days, it doesn’t seem to have done much in terms of slowing down the franchise’s impending relocation.
On Wednesday, the organization made significant process in its attempt to relocate to Las Vegas, having reportedly received approval on a newly-amended bill (SB1) to bring a $1.5 billion stadium to Vegas, per The Athletic. The new stadium is anticipated to seat more than 30,000 fans and will open in 2028, costing roughly $300 million in taxpayer money.
Nevada’s state assembly and senate voted to approve the bill on Wednesday, meaning the next step will be to receive approval from state governor Joe Lombardo, followed by MLB’s 29 other franchise owners. Both seem likely to occur.
In protest of the franchise leaving Oakland and the ownership group, Athletics fans turned out in numbers for Tuesday’s game, during which the team picked up its sixth consecutive win, its longest winning streak of the season.
More than 27,000 fans flocked to the RingCentral Coliseum, more than triple that of the team’s average attendance at home games throughout the season.
Despite a powerful and nostalgic reverse boycott, the team appears destined to move to Las Vegas, though nothing is official just yet.
According to The Athletic, the vote was upheld after a 25–15 split from the assembly.
