In a bill introduced on Friday, May 26, 2023 in the Nevada Legislature, Oakland Athletics stand to receive $380 million from Nevada for the construction of their potential $1.5 billion stadium on the Las Vegas Strip featuring a retractable roof.
The team has agreed to use land on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, currently occupied by the Tropicana Las Vegas casino resort.
The funding would come from $180 million in transferable tax credits from the state, $120 million in county bonds, and $25 million from Clark County for infrastructure costs.
The rendering of the baseball stadium shows that it would have a seating capacity of 30,000, making it the smallest in Major League Baseball stadium. Las Vegas will become the smallest TV market in the MLB with just three major professional sports franchise.
Despite the small size, Las Vegas and the team are hopeful of pulling many tourists among the 40 million who visit the city each year.
The proposed bill also includes the creation of a homelessness prevention and assistance fund in coordination with MLB and the Nevada Resort Association.
The Clark County Board of Commissioners would manage the funds for services such as emergency rental and utility assistance, job training, and rehabilitation and counseling services for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The lease agreement with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority would be subject to renewal after 30 years.
However, the proposal faces uncertainty in the Nevada Legislature as Democratic leaders have indicated that financing bills, including for the Athletics, may not proceed if Republican Governor Joe Lombardo vetoes budget bills.
The bill does not involve direct tax increases and can move forward with a simple majority vote in the Senate and Assembly.
The legislative leadership in Nevada is currently reviewing the proposal and seeking input from interested parties before making any commitments. The decision on the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas could be voted on when MLB owners meet in June.