Viva Las Veg-A’s

The Oakland Athletics are one step closer to becoming the Las Vegas Athletics. Earlier this week, Nevada’s legislature passed a bill approving public funding for the team’s new stadium on the Strip, sending it to Governor Joe Lombardo’s desk to sign it into law.

The bill, which passed the state Senate by a vote of 13-8 and the state’s assembly by a vote of 25-15, allocates $380 million in total public assistance towards the stadium – $180 million in transferable tax credits and $120 million in county bonds (taxpayer-backed loans).

And *sarcasm incoming* the timing of its passage has probably made the people of Oakland veryyyy happy. The bill landed on Governor Lombardo’s desk one day after more than 27,000 A’s fans flooded their home ballpark as a “reverse boycott” to show the team’s record-low attendance – ~8,900 people/game – was due to their anger at the organization and not disinterest (the “sell the team” chants during the game probably made that more clear).

👀 Looking ahead… But if A’s fans are holding onto a sliver of hope, it’s this: there are still some additional steps until the relocation becomes official.

The bill still needs to be signed into law, the team still needs to secure additional funding to build its $1.2 billion stadium, and three-quarters of the other MLB-team owners still have to approve the proposed move. (A’s fans – EARMUFFS. All three are expected to happen though; the team is shooting to play in the new stadium starting in 2027.)