Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo signed into law Thursday a $380 million public financing package to help build a Major League Baseball stadium for the Oakland Athletics on the Las Vegas Strip as MLB's commissioner outlined a months-long approval process for the A's proposed move there.
The first-term Republican governor and former sheriff in Las Vegas said he was excited to sign the measure the Democrat-controlled Legislature approved Wednesday night after a seven-day long special session. "This is an incredible opportunity to bring the A's to Nevada," Lombardo said in a statement from Carson City.
The $1.5 billion stadium with a retractable roof is planned near the homes of the NFL's Vegas Raiders, who fled Oakland in 2020, and the NHL's Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup this week in just their sixth season. "This legislation reflects months of negotiations between the team, the state, the county, and the league," Lombardo said. "Las Vegas' position as a global sports destination is only growing, and Major League Baseball is another tremendous asset for the city." Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred outlined the review process of the A's proposed relocation during a news conference hours earlier at a meeting of owners in New York.
With a capacity of 30,000, the stadium would be MLB's smallest. The team said in a statement late Thursday the Nevada governor's signing of the funding package was "a significant step forward in securing a new home for the Athletics." "We will now begin the process with MLB to apply for relocation to Las Vegas," the statement said. "We are excited about Southern Nevada's dynamic and vibrant professional sports scene, and we look forward to becoming a valued community member through jobs, economic