Athletics’ new Las Vegas ballpark costs now above $2 billion

Owner John Fisher said the venue has become more expensive as ‘more detail’ comes in.

By Josh Sim

SportsPro

The Athletics’ new ballpark in Las Vegas is now expected to cost around $2 billion, according to the Major League Baseball (MLB) team’s owner John Fisher.

The franchise’s relocation from Oakland was approved by MLB owners in November 2023, with a new ballpark to be built on the Tropicana Hotel site at a cost of US$1.5 billion.

However, Fisher has now told the The Nevada Independent that estimated costs were now “up in the $2 billion range”.

This would make the ballpark more expensive than the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium, which cost $1.9 billion, behind only $2.3 billion Sphere as the city’s most expensive non-gaming venue.

“The costs have gone up as more detail comes in,” Fisher said. “That’s fine. From the very beginning, we wanted a design that was unique. Vegas is one of the most unique towns in the world. We wanted a building that would symbolize the excitement and uniqueness that is the market.”

Work on the venue officially began in June, with Fisher reaffirming that the team aims to have the stadium ready for Opening Day in 2028. He said the A’s were targeting the construction of “the most intimate ballpark in baseball” and that the franchise wanted “to have our fans feel like they’re part of the action”.

While Fisher did not say how the increase in costs will be funded, the A’s vice chairman Sandy Dean told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority last December that budget increases had been anticipated and that additional costs were the team’s responsibility.

Fisher will contribute at least $1.1 billion towards the venue’s development, while US Bank and Goldman Sachs will loan an additional $300 million. Another US$350 million will come in public financing from the Nevada government.

The 64-year-old confirmed he was in search of partnerships for the team. He is also in the process of selling Major League Soccer (MLS) team San Jose Earthquakes, but noted that the proceeds from the sale would not go towards the new ballpark’s build.

“My goal here is to find not just partners, but the right partners,” Fisher added. “We need to make sure that we have partners who not only love the game of baseball but love being a part of Las Vegas Athletics and this stadium.”

Last month, Aramark confirmed a long-term partnership with the A’s for the venue’s food and beverage offerings, with Sports Business Journal (SBJ) reporting the deal included the company making a $100 million equity investment in the MLB franchise.