The Oakland Athletics’ arrival in Las Vegas was announced in style and brought joy to southern Nevada, but questions are already beginning to arise.
The purchase now establishes a patchwork of public-private funding mechanisms that requires approval from state lawmakers and local authorities.
The stadium and other developments are expected to cost around $1.5 billion, according to The Nevada Independent, while the A’s are seeking $500 million in public assistance, confirmed Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft, who has had discussions with the A’s management and whose district includes the potential stadium site.
“It’s something they came up with,” Naft said of the funding request. “You don’t always get what you want. And I think that will probably be the case with the $500 million.”
Naft said the NFL Raiders’ move from Oakland, Calif., to Las Vegas in 2020 helped revolutionize Las Vegas as a major sports city. But even with the purchase of the land, he has unanswered questions about how the new stadium will affect Las Vegas residents year-round.
These proposals are expected to be discussed in the Nevada Legislature.