Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved the Oakland Athletics’ planned move to Las Vegas in a vote. It took place on the final day of MLB’s owners meetings in Arlington, Texas.
“I want to express my gratitude to the owners and Commissioner for their thoughtful deliberation and positive votes in favor of our relocation to Las Vegas,” Athletics managing partner and owner John Fisher said in a statement.
“Today marks a significant moment for our franchise, and it’s met with mixed emotions – sadness for this change and excitement for our future. I know this is a hard day for our fans in Oakland. We made sincere efforts to keep our team in Oakland, but unfortunately, it did not work out.
“I am grateful to the fans who have supported our team throughout the years and the home Oakland provided. The storied history of our franchise includes three cities over the past century: Oakland, along with Kansas City and Philadelphia, will always be part of this franchise’s DNA.
“We are excited to begin this next chapter in Las Vegas. I want to thank the Las Vegas and Nevada community for welcoming us. We will continue to work hard to bring home more championships for our fans and for our new home in Vegas.”
The Athletics are set to open their new ballpark for the 2028 season at the site of the Tropicana Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
The team will continue to play their home games at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum next year and then evaluate options for a temporary site until the new stadium in Las Vegas is ready.
The Athletics could extend their lease at the Oakland Coliseum, but the city said it will only agree to do so if the team changes their name after the move and they get priority for an expansion franchise.
Their potential move comes after more than two decades of failed efforts to secure a new stadium in Oakland. The team also explored sites in Fremont and San Jose, only for those plans to fall apart as well.
The Athletics previously played in Philadelphia (1901-1954) and Kansas City (1955-1967) before moving to Oakland for the 1968 season.
The Athletics are the last remaining men’s professional sports team in Oakland. The city ironically lost the Raiders to Las Vegas in 2020 after efforts to build a new stadium stalled.
Athletics first MLB team to relocate since 2005
The Athletics will become the first MLB team to relocate since the Montreal Expos moved to Washington D.C., in 2005, and rebranded as the Nationals. Prior to that, the last MLB team to change cities was the Washington Senators, who became the Texas Rangers in 1972.
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