On June 23, a groundbreaking ceremony officially marked the start of construction for the new Major League Baseball stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. The event was attended by club owner John Fisher, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, team representatives, and local officials.

New stadium ready in three years

The ceremony took place on the site of the former Tropicana casino and hotel, where the $1.75 billion stadium will be built. Fisher thanked numerous officials, union leaders, and other partners for helping reach what he called an epic moment in the club’s history. The new Las Vegas stadium is expected to be completed before the 2028 MLB season. Until then, the A’s will play temporarily in West Sacramento, California.

Manfred said Las Vegas has proven to be an excellent home for sports teams and expects the A’s to bring a winning squad to the city. I’ll say one thing—with absolute certainty—I’ll be here on opening day in 2028 to celebrate with John Fisher, his entire team, and hopefully the whole state of Nevada, Manfred said.

© The Athletics

After years of work, the project can finally begin

Monday’s groundbreaking was a symbolic milestone in the A’s relocation process. Many speakers recalled months of negotiations over the stadium location and public funding meant to attract the team to Nevada. In a special 2023 session, the Nevada legislature approved up to $380 million in public funds for the stadium’s construction. The rest of the costs are covered by the A’s. The team received the Stadium Authority’s approval for a lease agreement last year after Fisher’s financial plan was accepted.

© The Athletics

Athletics fans disappointed by the move to Las Vegas

Breaking ground and starting the new stadium was a dream for many Athletics fans—but it’s not happening in Oakland. The ceremony took place in Las Vegas. For as long as I understood what was going on, we went to A’s, Warriors, and Raiders games, said Moren, co-founder of The Last Dive Bar, a group making apparel commemorating the Oakland Coliseum—the A’s home for 57 years. I’m not a fan of the team anymore. I don’t care what they do on the field. There’s no wrong way to deal with this as a fan. It’s like losing a loved one—there’s no wrong way to grieve.

Similarly, Christopher Dobbins, a former fan and president of Save Oakland Sports, said, I’m very disappointed by the A’s management decision to leave the city. But it’s equally frustrating that Oakland couldn’t get organized to prevent it.