The Las Vegas Aces, formerly known as the Oakland Athletics, are currently in the process of relocating to Las Vegas. In the meantime, they will be playing their games in Sacramento for the next three seasons. However, despite not yet officially moving, the team is already looking towards playing games in other markets. In their proposed 30-year non-relocation agreement, they are requesting to play up to eight home games each season away from their future $1.5 billion Las Vegas ballpark.
Las Vegas Stadium Authority board is set to vote on this arrangement on July 18. Athletics president Dave Kaval has stated that the team wants to play neutral site home games to strengthen the franchise’s brand and attract players and sponsors. It remains unclear where these games will be played, whether domestically or internationally. The impact of playing a portion of their home schedule elsewhere on player recruitment is also uncertain, as players typically prioritize teams willing to pay market value, something the Athletics have struggled with.
Steve Hill, chairman of the Stadium Authority, mentioned that the Athletics may need to reduce the requested number of non-Vegas home games to avoid affecting their bonding capacity. This funding is crucial for the stadium’s construction. The number of home games played directly affects bonding capacity, according to Hill. Additionally, the Athletics are seeking minority investors to raise approximately $500 million for the stadium’s construction and are still aiming for a 2028 opening.
In recent years, Major League Baseball has shown interest in hosting international contests such as the Seoul and London series which usually consist of two games only. Typically, MLB allows teams to play up to four home games in other markets. However, with their relocation to Las Vegas, it seems like they want more than just four home games outside their future ballpark.
