Major League Baseball’s (MLB0 Oakland Athletics) relocation to Las Vegas could become a reality.
The Nevada State Senate, which includes Las Vegas, approved a bill on Thursday (Nov. 14) that would provide public funding for the Athletics’ $380 million stadium, according to CBS Sports and other U.S. sports media outlets.
The bill was not without controversy. There was considerable opposition to using taxpayer dollars to build a new stadium for the Athletics, which are owned by billionaire John Fisher, so the bill was delayed until last week.스포츠토토
But the council moved forward with two amendments to the bill, which passed with a vote of 12 in favor and 7 opposed. The amendments included a requirement that new stadium suites be allocated to local communities and that $1.5 million be donated annually to a fund to help the homeless.
There is still a mountain to climb before the Athletics’ move to Las Vegas is finalized. While the bill has passed the state Senate, it still faces the hurdle of a 42-member Assembly vote.
If it passes the Assembly and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signs it, the 29 remaining MLB owners, excluding the Athletics, will be the last to approve the move. However, the governor’s signature and the owners’ approval would be a mere ceremonial step, making the Assembly vote the final hurdle.
In addition to the new stadium, the bill is controversial because it includes up to $180 million in tax credits for the Athletics. In addition, the Athletics would pay no property taxes and the area around the stadium would be set up as a special tax district. Opponents argue that the amount of state support is actually too much.
The Athletics announced plans for a new 30,000-seat ballpark late last month. The team had previously purchased land for the new ballpark near the Las Vegas Strip, an area densely populated with hotels and casinos.
The Athletics want to move to Las Vegas as soon as next season. For two seasons, the team will temporarily call the 10,000-capacity Las Vegas Ballpark home, which is used by minor league teams, before moving into its new home in 2027.
The Athletics, who sold off a number of key players before the season, are coming off their worst season in recent memory, going 18-50 despite a six-game winning streak. Angry Oakland-area fans have begun staging “sell the team and leave” chants at the stadium.