A’s break ground on $1.75 billion Las Vegas ballpark, pledging “We are Vegas’ team”
The Oakland Athletics broke ground June 23, 2025 on a $1.75 billion, 33,000-seat stadium at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana, unveiling BIG’s “Armadillo” design and targeting an Opening Day in 2028 for their new Las Vegas home.
- Ceremony held June 23, 2025: owner John Fisher declared, “We are Vegas’ team.” See MLB.com and ESPN.
- Project scope and cost: a compact, 33,000-seat “Armadillo” stadium on nine acres within a 35–36-acre Bally’s complex, budgeted at $1.75 billion (MLB.com).
- Financing mix: roughly $1.4 billion privately from the Fisher family and $350–380 million in public support authorized by Nevada’s Senate Bill 1 (see MLB.com).
- Timeline to watch: steel work begins March 2026, roof steel in June 2026, with an Opening Day target in 2028 (coverage at ESPN).
Groundbreaking ceremony, people and symbols
Where and when: A ceremonial groundbreaking took place on June 23, 2025, at the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. The site featured heavy equipment, dirt mounds and a white X marking future home plate.
Who attended: Team owner John Fisher, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, team president Marc Badain, and former A’s stars Rollie Fingers and Dave Stewart joined the ceremony. Little Leaguers helped commemorate the moment. Fisher called the day a “dream come true.” Reporting: MLB.com; ESPN.
“We are Vegas’ team.” — John Fisher during the ceremonial dig
Stadium design and features
Architectural teams Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and HNTB proposed the stadium’s distinctive “Armadillo” form: five overlapping wedge-shaped shells clad in square metal panels that evoke pennants. The main entrance is designed with an expansive cable-net glass wall that, if realized as rendered, could rank among the largest in the world. See renderings and design coverage at Dezeen and MLB.com.
The design is intentionally compact: about 84% of seats will lie between the foul poles, producing among the smallest foul territories in MLB and bringing fans closer to the action. Engineering partners include Thornton Tomasetti and Henderson Engineers (Dezeen).
Construction progress and timeline: what to watch
Work had already begun before the ceremony: the first deck pour was completed in the outfield and the second-level concourse pour progressed from the third-base foul pole toward first base. Team president Marc Badain reported roughly half of the ballpark decks were poured by mid‑June 2025 (ESPN).
Near-term schedule:
- March 2026 — steel work in the ballpark bowl begins and the fifth of six roof buttresses was due by end of March;
- Spring–June 2026 — final buttress and roof steel installation begins;
- Summer–early fall 2026 — building frame rises; escalators arrive and install in weeks following the ceremony;
- 2028 — targeted Opening Day, contingent on schedule resilience to weather, supply chain and labor factors (ESPN).
Financing and the site
Private vs. public funding: The Fisher family will contribute about $1.4 billion privately, while Nevada authorized approximately $350–380 million in public funds under the legislation tied to the project (see MLB.com and the project summary at Wikipedia).
Site ownership and broader development: The ballpark sits on a nine-acre parcel within a larger 35–36-acre property owned by Bally’s Corp. The wider site will include hotel, casino and entertainment elements, with phased openings through 2030. The former Tropicana resort was demolished in October 2024 to clear the land for development (MLB.com).
Legal and fiscal protections: State officials point to a non-relocation agreement recorded by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority in December 2024 and the lease structure as safeguards; critics warn that public exposure to cost overruns and revenue shortfalls remains a concern. Coverage and debate appear at ESPN and Wikipedia.
Team background and transition plan
The Athletics played their final season at the Oakland Coliseum in 2024. For 2025–2027 the team plans to play in a Triple-A park in West Sacramento as a temporary home while Las Vegas construction continues. Players have worn transitional sleeve patches referencing both the Sacramento Tower Bridge and Las Vegas logos as part of the move (coverage: ESPN).
Implications: economy, jobs and community identity
Economic impact and jobs: Construction will hire thousands across trades during peak periods and the wider Bally’s development promises longer-term hospitality and operations jobs as phases open through 2030. Rural and exurban workers may see contractor opportunities tied to the project (MLB.com; ESPN).
Taxpayer questions and policy debate: The $350–380 million public portion reignites familiar debates about stadium subsidies. Supporters argue for long-term tourism and tax benefits; skeptics highlight taxpayer risk from cost overruns and optimistic revenue projections. Observers are watching state reporting, bond performance and change orders closely (ESPN).
Sports landscape and identity: The relocation marks a major franchise shift from Oakland to Las Vegas, altering local identity for longtime East Bay fans while adding a unique venue to MLB’s portfolio. The compact “Armadillo” design and intimate seating could attract both local and out‑of‑state visitors seeking a closer baseball experience (Dezeen).
Risk and schedule watch points
The schedule is ambitious: March 2026 steel work, June 2026 roof steel and a 2028 opening leave narrow margins for delays due to weather, supply chain issues or labor disputes. Fiscal conservatives and watchdogs should monitor construction change orders, bond performance and state infrastructure reporting. Legal protections such as the non-relocation agreement exist, but enforcement and future political choices will determine their strength (ESPN; Wikipedia).
Sources and further reading
- MLB.com — A’s break ground on new Las Vegas stadium
- ESPN — Athletics celebrate groundbreaking
- Dezeen — BIG’s Las Vegas “Armadillo” stadium
- Wikipedia — New Las Vegas Stadium
- Las Vegas Sports Biz — A’s construction/design teams meeting (Sept. 2024)
- Ballpark Experience — Athletics construction updates
- YouTube — Groundbreaking video and ceremony footage
