Major League Baseball will start a months-long approval process for the Oakland Athletics' proposed move to Las Vegas, which appears set to become the second shift of a franchise in the last half-century.
The team must submit a relocation application explaining its efforts in Oakland and why Las Vegas is a better market. A relocation committee will make a recommendation to the eight-man executive council.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao denied the claim the city had made no ballpark offer, saying the A's ownership had insisted on a multibillion dollar, 55-acre project that included a ballpark, residential, commercial and retail space.
Manfred said there will not be a relocation fee and that baseball has always preferred to stay put.
Manfred said the community had to provide support for a new stadium, and the team released a statement saying they were excited about becoming a valued community member.
The Nevada Legislature approved providing taxpayer money for a proposed $1.5 billion, 30,000-seat ballpark with a retractable roof, close to Allegiant Stadium, where the NFL's Oakland Raiders moved to in 2020, and T-Mobile Arena, where the NHL's expansion Golden Knights started play in 2017.
The A's are averaging 9,076 fans per home game, lowest among the 30 teams, and have the second-worst record in the major leagues at 19-51. A new stadium likely would open in 2028 at the earliest.
Manfred said Baseball stadiums are a public asset that produce economic impact. It's good business to have a public-private partnership.
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