Oakland Athletics President Steps Down, Prompting Debate Over Potential Relocation to Las Vegas
The Oakland Athletics are set to move to a new stadium, with the projected opening date set for the 2028 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority has approved leave, non-relocation, and development documents for the team's new home. However, the project's future is shrouded in uncertainty, with questions being raised about the team's ability to secure sufficient funding.
Dave Kaval, the public face of the Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas, announced his resignation as team president on December 27, 2024. Kaval, who was instrumental in securing $380 million from Nevada legislators last year for a $1.75 billion stadium, will exit his position on December 31, 2024.
The projected cost of the stadium has recently jumped by $250 million, leading to concerns about the team's financial commitment. Mike Roeben, a leading skeptic of the Las Vegas deal, wrote a scathing summary suggesting that Kaval is distancing himself before the deal falls through and the project is likely to cost over $2 billion.
In a statement released by Major League Baseball, Kaval mentioned his intention to explore new opportunities at the crossroads of business and government in California. Sandy Dean, a longtime business partner of team owner John Fisher and his family, will temporarily replace Kaval when the search for a new president begins next year.
The A's have only managed to secure a $300 million bank loan for the project, leaving a significant funding gap. Until the new stadium opens, the team will play in a minor-league ballpark in Sacramento.
Many A's fans and Las Vegas insiders still doubt the team will spend over $1 billion of John Fisher's family's personal finances on the new ballpark. The Tropicana, a well-known Las Vegas hotel and casino that filed for bankruptcy in 2020, is mentioned as a possible point of comparison for the potential failure of the stadium deal.
A development agreement with Clark County is yet to be worked out, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the project. Despite these challenges, the Athletics have cleared most of the final contractual and political hurdles toward the stadium's construction.
The new stadium's construction promises to bring a new era for the Oakland Athletics. However, the questions about funding and leadership remain, casting a shadow over the team's ambitious plans.
