Public Debate In Government Halls Will Begin On Athletics’ Request For $500 Million In Ballpark Incentives In Las Vegas
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By Alan Snel/LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
On Saturday night, the Las Vegas Aviators drew 3,000 more fans at their ballpark in Summerlin than their parent club, the Oakland Athletics, did at the Coliseum.
The Aviators announced a sellout crowd of 10,850 on Star Wars Night at Las Vegas Ballpark, while the Athletics’ attendance at the Coliseum was posted at 7,052 in Oakland.
Reaction to those attendance numbers:
Will the big league Athletics be bunking with their Triple-A affiliate at Las Vegas Ballpark for a couple of years while the A’s build a new baseball venue off Tropicana Avenue on the west side of Interstate 15?
It all depends. The Athletics are seeking $500 million in “total public incentives,” said Jeremy Aguero, a principal at Applied Analysis, which is a consultant for the Athletics on the proposed ballpark in Las Vegas.
It includes a sports and entertainment district that would contain the Athletics ballpark where taxes and fees would generate money designated to pay off bonds that would be issued by Clark County. The county is also the official fiscal agent for the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, which oversees the NFL Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium.
The $500 million would also include development tax incentives that will be discussed at the state level, plus tax credits.
So, the ballpark subsidy debate moves to the Nevada Legislature and Clark County.
In the county, there are no county commissioners who have voiced support for public financing for the A’s ballpark.
Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft said the A’s can ask for $500 million in public financial help, but it doesn’t mean that’s much the team will get.
Gov. Joe Lombardo is open to talking with the Athletics, which would like to get Major League Baseball approval in the fall to move to Las Vegas.
Typically, MLB will want a new host community to show support for a team by contributing public dollars toward a new ballpark.
That public debate in the halls of government is on deck.
Former Athletics star Reggie Jackson on his attempt to purchase the Oakland Athletics, talking with Howard Stern on the broadcaster’s show:
