The Oakland Athletics have settled on the Tropicana site for their ballpark should they move to Las Vegas, it has been reported.
The A’s have long been reported to be keen on following the Raiders in moving to Las Vegas, which represents a much bigger and more lucrative market for them.
They have been looking for a location for a brand new $1billion domed ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip, and had been in discussions with Bally’s about the Tropicana as well as Paul Ruffin about a site close to Circus Circus.
However, the Las Vegas Review Journal report discussions with Ruffin have now ended, leaving the Tropicana site the only one left on the table.
According to the report, Bally’s president George Papanier has confirmed talks are still ongoing about the land where the resort currently stands.
The Oakland Athletics do have the option of staying in Oakland, of course, where a separate waterfront development is being backed by new mayor Sheng Thao.
Team president Dave Kavel does seem to be set on a ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip, though. “We like the notion of some of the venues where people will get out of their car or walking from a resort and walk up and see in the stadium,” Kaval said in 2021. “It almost draws you in.”
That solution would also make MGM happy, who sold the Mirage to make the south end of the Strip ‘their neighbourhood’ largely due to the Raiders Stadium and T-Mobile Arena, which is the home of NHL team the Vegas Golden Knights, being located there.
MGM acquired The Cosmopolitan to replace the Mirage in its portfolio and have suggested they want to take on new developments of their own on the south end of the Strip.
“That’s our neighbourhood down toward New York-New York, Excalibur, Mandalay Bay and Luxor, MGM Grand, and Park MGM,” chief financial officer Jonathan Halkyard said in 2021.
“The reality is — and not many people appreciate this — that there’s a substantial opportunity for our company to do additional development in that area.
“There’s seven acres in front of the Excalibur. That’s equal to the entire footprint of The Cosmopolitan. I’m not suggesting we’re going to build a 3,000-room tower there, but that’s a significant development opportunity potentially.”
The Tropicana, which has seen better days and adds little to the Strip these days, disappearing and another sports attraction that fills thousands of rooms and casino tables being built instead would obviously suit MGM down to the ground.
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