A’s Las Vegas relocation unanimously approved by owners

Report: A’s Las Vegas relocation unanimously approved by owners originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Major League Baseball (MLB) owners unanimously voted on Thursday to approve the relocation of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas, according to multiple local and national baseball writers, citing sources.

The vote occurred during the MLB owners meetings in Arlington, Texas.

Although the owners have given their approval for John Fisher’s proposed move of the A’s to Las Vegas, there are still obstacles that the franchise needs to address before they can officially make Sin City their new home.

The San Jose Mercury News’ Jason Mastrodonato reported earlier this week that the A’s still need to check several boxes, including securing approval of a stadium operating agreement, a non-relocation agreement with Las Vegas, a construction agreement, a private financing plan, and new renderings for the proposed Las Vegas ballpark.

“It’s the next step,” former Florida Marlins and Montreal Expos team president David Samson told Mastrodonato. “It’s a step. It’s not the final step. Even with a relocation approval vote, that doesn’t mean Oakland is losing its team.”

Samson’s experience with relocations makes him well aware of the challenges that Fisher and the A’s still face.

In addition, a group of Nevada teachers known as Schools Over Stadiums is attempting to block the A’s from receiving $380 million in public funding for a proposed ballpark by trying to put the measure on the November 2024 election ballot.

The A’s only have one more season remaining on their Oakland Coliseum lease. After that, it’s uncertain where they will play until their proposed Las Vegas ballpark is ready, presumably in 2028.

Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the A’s have indicated to the league that they plan to play in several locations until their Las Vegas ballpark opens, including the Giants’ Oracle Park and the Las Vegas Aviators’ minor-league ballpark in Summerlin, Nev.

The vote by MLB owners comes just days after Fisher encountered three A’s fans and explained to them why this move was happening.

If the A’s do move to Las Vegas, it will be the third relocation in franchise history. Originally residing in Philadelphia, the A’s moved to Kansas City in 1955 before moving to Oakland 13 years later.

The last MLB relocation occurred in 2005 when the Expos moved to Washington and became the Nationals.