Las Vegas Becoming More Tangible For Nomadic Athletics Franchise That Began In Philly
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — What a difference a year makes for A’s manager Mark Kotsay.
Last season Las Vegas in 2028 seemed rather far away but now before his team’s home-opener at Hohokam Stadium Sunday Kotsay talks about Las Vegas in 2028 and it seems so much closer. Maybe it’s because there’s visible progress in the stadium construction on the Strip and the A’s have already staged two player contract extension pressers at their welcome center in Las Vegas for blossoming stars Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson. Kotsay attended the Soderstrom signing presser.
We’re coming, Kotsay said enthusiastically of the A’s to Las Vegas in 2028. Kotsay is even signed through that first year in Las Vegas, where the construction team of Mortenson/McCarthy is more than a quarter into a 31-month build schedule. The $2 billion, 33,000-fan, domed stadium is being built at the former Tropicana hotel-casino site at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue.
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Kotsay is rolling out a lineup for today’s game against Cleveland filled with young stars and big bats like leadoff hitter and Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, starting All-Star shortstop Wilson and slugging catcher Shea Langeliers. Former New York Mets player Jeff McNeil is at second base while Brent Rooker is batting cleanup. Denzel Clarke, who made wall-climbing, home run-stealing catches in centerfield, is batting ninth with frontline pitcher Luis Severino making the spring home opener start.
The A’s were a playoff contender with a record of 22 wins and 20 loses after a quarter of the season when they hit a brutal stretch of losing 20 of 21 games. Even with that ugly 1-20 record over the 21 games the Athletics ended with a 76-86 record, meaning they played above the .500 mark outside of that 21-game period.
Hohokam Stadium is not a glistening new spring training stadium with fancy amenities, but its older feel offers a decent spring baseball feel.
Murals of former A’s grace the walls and grassy outfield berms offer a nice game-watching, sunbathing experience.
The A’s are playing in a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento in 2026 and 2027 while the stadium is built on the Strip for a slated MLB debut in 2028.
The A’s left Oakland after the 2024 season.
Here’s a look at the Las Vegas stadium construction site.
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The city of Mesa owns the A’s stadium and also the Cubs spring ballpark and has a paved trail connecting the two.
The mayor is a southpaw who brings his baseball glove to the pregame activities and city council members enjoy telling people that the Mesa is the 36th biggest city in the U.S.
Fans are still wearing their Oakland jerseys.
PSA
