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The A’s stadium deal did not pass in the Nevada legislative session
David Lloyd describes the A’s failure to enforce the stadium contract in Nevada law.
Carson City, Nev. — Project to help build a stadium The Oakland Athletics in Las Vegas are in flux after Nevada lawmakers adjourned their four-month legislative session.
The future of the controversial bill is now uncertain as the Legislature did not move it ahead of the midnight deadline as Monday moved to Tuesday. The proposal could be considered in a special legislative session at a date to be determined, where lawmakers will vote later.
Lawmakers failed to pass one of five major budget bills, including more than $1 billion in funding for capital improvement projects that fund state public works and construction, that will also be considered for a special session.
In a statement overnight, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo said he would call a special session Tuesday morning where he would set an agenda for legislative priorities.
Now, the timeline for the bill, which has renewed a national debate over public funding for private sports arenas, is murky — adding to worries and skepticism among economists about limited benefits at a huge public cost to Las Vegas’ growing sports scene. Tag.
The A’s last month reached an agreement with Polis and Gaming & Leisure Properties to build a potential stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. A’s president Dave Cowell has said he hopes to break ground next year and open in time for the 2027 season.
The Athletics have leased the Oakland Coliseum through 2024 and will play the 2025 and ’26 seasons at Las Vegas Ballpark.
A vote on the A’s move to Las Vegas could take place when owners meet in New York June 13-15, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said.
Most of the public funding for the $1.5 billion retractable roof stadium will come from $380 million in public assistance, partially from $180 million in transferable tax credits and $120 million in county bonds — taxpayer-backed loans and special taxes to help finance projects. The district surrounding the stadium. Supporters have promised the district will generate enough cash to pay off those bonds and interest.
The A’s will not have to pay property taxes for the publicly owned stadium and Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, will provide a $25 million loan for infrastructure costs.
The A’s had been searching for years for a new home to replace the outdated Oakland Coliseum, where they had moved from Kansas City for the 1968 season. It averaged just under 9,500 fans this season, the fewest of the 30 teams.
The team has been in talks with the city of Oakland to build a stadium on the waterfront, but in April turned its attention to Las Vegas.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
