Athletics to break ground on $1.75 billion Las Vegas ballpark on June 23

The Oakland Athletics are set to break ground on their new $1.75 billion ballpark in Las Vegas later this month, a major milestone in the franchise’s relocation efforts. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 8 a.m. on June 23,  a source familiar with the planning told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The future 33,000-seat stadium will be constructed on nine acres of the former 35-acre Tropicana hotel site, located at the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. The remaining 26 acres will be developed into an integrated resort by Bally’s Corp.

Although site preparation began in late April, the upcoming ceremony will serve as a formal celebration for team executives, state and local officials, and project stakeholders. Expected attendees include A’s ownership, Governor Joe Lombardo, Nevada state legislators, and members of the Clark County Commission.

The stadium project includes up to $380 million in public funding, a package approved by Nevada lawmakers in a special legislative session in 2023. The financing plan consists of state tax credits and revenue from a special tax district established by Clark County.

The county will issue $120 million in bonds to fund its share, to be repaid over 30 years, and will contribute an additional $25 million for surrounding infrastructure improvements. The Athletics will cover the remaining costs of the project and are currently seeking minority investors to join the venture.

The franchise began exploring a move to Las Vegas in 2021, after Major League Baseball authorized relocation efforts due to stalled stadium negotiations in Oakland. The A’s evaluated multiple sites across the Las Vegas Valley before selecting the Tropicana location in April 2023.

Construction is projected to take 32 months, with the stadium slated to open in time for the 2028 MLB season. In the interim, the A’s will play home games at Triple-A Sutter Health Park in Sacramento through the 2027 season.