Could Sacramento be a temporary home for the A's in possible Las Vegas relocation?
OAKLAND -- The Athletics still play in Oakland, but the uncertainty about their future has many speculating not only where their proposed new stadium could be located -- but also where the team could play in the interim.
While the team still does not have a confirmed site for their new home, the Oakland A's on Friday released the first renderings of the club's proposed ballpark in Las Vegas.
The current planned location for the stadium is at the corner of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard next to the MGM Grand casino and resort hotel that can be seen prominently in the images. The press release said the ballpark would be constructed on the nine-acre and feature a multiple seating options with a capacity of 30,000 for baseball games and a partially retractable roof.
"We are excited to share our vision for the A's potential new home. As our first conceptual design, we will continue to refine the look and feel of the ballpark over the next year," A's President Dave Kaval said in the press release that included the images. "We hope our project goes beyond a traditional ballpark and serves as a catalyst for community development and engagement."
According to the team, the state-of-the-art facility would be a hub for sports, entertainment, and community engagement, hosting A's games as well as a range of events, concerts, and community gatherings.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo said Wednesday that legislative leaders and the Athletics had reached a tentative agreement on a $1.5 billion stadium funding plan that would lure the franchise to Las Vegas. However, a funding bill still must be approved by the Legislature.
On Thursday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said a vote on the team's prospective move to Las Vegas could take place when owners meet from June 13-15 in New York.
"It's possible that a relocation vote could happen as early as June," Manfred said Thursday at Milwaukee during his tour of major league stadiums to speak with players. "It's very difficult to have a timeline for Oakland until there's actually a deal to be considered. There is a relocation process internally they need to go through, and we haven't even started that process."
When Manfred was asked whether he believed the door is completely closed on the possibility of the Athletics remaining in Oakland -- where the team has played since 1968 -- he placed responsibility squarely at the feet of Mayor Sheng Thao.
"I think you'd have to ask the mayor of Oakland that," Manfred said. "She said she had cut off negotiations after an announcement was made in Las Vegas. I don't have a crystal ball as to where anything's going. There's not a definitive deal done in Las Vegas. We'll have to see how that plays out."
If Oakland is no longer an option, at least one other California city could possibly be a temporary home to the A's before a possible move to Las Vegas.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg was interviewed by Carmichael Dave during his show on 1140 KHTK-Sacramento Friday morning. The idea was broached that Sacramento could possibly serve as a bridge city to an eventual relocation to Las Vegas. Steinberg neither confirmed nor denied those kinds of talks were happening.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao had issued a statement after the Athletics' land purchase in Nevada saying she was disappointed the team didn't negotiate with the city as a "true partner."
The Athletics have been seeking a new ballpark to replace Oakland Coliseum, which has served as their home park since they arrived from Kansas City and where the team's lease runs through 2024. The A's looked at a location near Oakland's Howard Terminal before shifting their focus out of state.
With their future unsettled, the Athletics are struggling at an historic level on the field and in the stands. The team is currently in the midst of an eight-game losing streak with the worst record in baseball at 10-42.
