The Oakland Athletics are set to play exhibition games in Las Vegas this weekend against Milwaukee, marking their first appearance in the city since announcing their relocation plans. The team is looking to establish Las Vegas as its future home city, with a new regular-season ballpark on the Strip expected to open in 2028. The Nevada Legislature approved $380 million in funding for the $1.5 billion stadium, and baseball owners gave their unanimous approval for the relocation in November.
The games will take place at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the franchise's Triple-A Aviators, in front of a close to sellout crowd in the 10,000-seat capacity venue. However, cooler temperatures dropping into the 50s may impact attendance for the Friday night game.
Las Vegas has a history of hosting spring training games since at least 1983, and the A's previously played regular-season games in the city in 1996 due to renovations at the Oakland Coliseum. This weekend's games present a unique situation for players, who will be returning to Oakland and facing a fan base upset with team owner John Fisher.
The A's recently unveiled renderings for their future 33,000-seat stadium, which will be located on a nine-acre segment of a 35-acre property owned by Bally's at the corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. The Tropicana resort currently occupying the site is set to close in April for demolition to make way for the ballpark and hotel construction.
While the A's future home from 2025-27 remains undecided, options include a potential lease extension with the city of Oakland, playing at the San Francisco Giants' Oracle Park, or using Triple-A ballparks in Salt Lake City or Sacramento, California. Legal challenges and construction delays could impact the timeline for the new stadium in Las Vegas.
Despite a challenging season last year with a 50-112 record, the A's are focused on their performance on the field and building a supportive fan base in their new home. Players acknowledge the emotions surrounding the relocation but remain committed to playing well and earning community support in their new city.
