The Athletics are one step closer to ditching Oakland in favor of Las Vegas.
Thursday, MLB owners unanimously approved the move paving the way for the League’s second relocation since the turn of the century and first since 2005 when the Expos became the Washington Nationals.
The Oakland Athletics’ move to Las Vegas was unanimously approved Thursday by Major League Baseball team owners, cementing the sport’s first relocation since 2005, according to two people familiar with the vote.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league had not yet announced the results. A 75% vote of the 30 teams was necessary to make the move, which was endorsed by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.
AP
Much of the reasoning behind what seems to be an inevitable move to Las Vegas centers around the Oakland Coliseum and the Club’s inability to secure public funds from the municipal government to build a new stadium. Las Vegas on the other hand is set to fork over $380 million in public financing for a new A’s ballpark on the Las Vegas strip, a decision that was recently approved by the state of Nevada but isn’t set to open until 2027. Meanwhile, the Athletics’ lease with the Coliseum expires in 2024. This raises the question of where the team will play in the interim.