Not Great Timing: Potential MLB Lockout For 2027 Season Could Slow Down Athletics Building Momentum For Move To Las Vegas In 2028
By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Talk about rough timing.
The Athletics plan on opening a new domed stadium on the Strip in 2028, but contentious labor issues between MLB team owners and the players union can result in a work stoppage for the 2027 season, which could slow down the momentum the A’s are seeking when it christens their new palatial playground in Las Vegas in two years.
Major League Baseball, working hard at trying to create a salary cap to foster more competitive balance, wants to limit the contract length for free agents switching teams to five years and six years for players who stay with their teams. And team owners want to end deferred contracts. MLB also proposed a $1 million minimum salary.
The MLB players union pushed back with these reactions today:
The biggest source of conflict is over MLB’s goal of implementing a salary cap, which is used by the NFL, NBA and NHL.
The possibility of owners locking out players before the MLB CBA expires Dec. 1 could slow down the momentum that the A’s want as they prepare to finish construction of a $2 billion, 33,000-fan stadium at the former Tropicana hotel site at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue.
Ideally, the A’s can make the playoffs during a 2027 season to create excitement leading up to the stadium’s debut in Las Vegas in 2028. That scenario is based on a 2027 season happening.
The unpredictable A’s today broke a four-game losing streak by coming back from a 6-2 deficit to beat the San Francisco Giants, 9-6, in a matinee game in SF. The A’s are 39 wins and 42 losses at the season’s halfway mark and are competing to win their division or qualify as a American League wild card playoff team.
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But it’s 2026 and the Las Vegas Aviators — the Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate — are hyping a 30-game $199 summer pass for standing room only tickets. That’s less than seven bucks a ticket.
Meanwhile, UNLV football is forging ahead with its own ticket deal for the first two home games against Memphis and California at Allegiant Stadium in two months. UNLV said before single-game tickets go on sale July 8, fans can lock in tickets to each of these first two home games at $35 per game, a savings of 30 percent over regular ticket prices.
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You might recall that VGK game hype-man and arena host Mark Mark Shunock recently gave Pope Leo’s detail a customized Vegas Golden Knights gold sweater. Well, the Pope received another sports goodie when former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski gave him the final out ball from Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Pope Leo is a Chicago native.
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UNLV’s sports conference — the Mountain West Conference — has a new brand tagline. “Built Bold.”
The Mountain West has major changes with Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State leaving the league to become members of a newly revived Pac-12.
New Mountain West teams are North Dakota State, Northern Illinois and UTEP for a ten-team football conference, with UC Davis and Grand Canyon University coming in board as non-football colleges.
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And finally, congrats to Lee Canyon, the ski resort that offers year-round outdoor activities, for opening its first multi-use hiking trail in the scenic Spring Mountains outside Las Vegas. There was a ceremony and ribbon-cutting to celebrate the new trail.
