Bill to build A's ballpark caps Nevada's cost at $380M
A bill introduced late Friday in the Nevada Legislature would give the Oakland Athletics up to $380 million for a potential 30,000-seat, $1.5 billion retractable roof stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.
The bulk of the public funding would come from $180 million in transferable tax credits from the state and $120 million in county bonds, which can vary based on interest rate returns. Clark County also would contribute $25 million in credit toward infrastructure costs.
The A's have been looking for a home to replace Oakland Coliseum, where the team has played since arriving from Kansas City for the 1968 season. The team previously sought to build a stadium in Fremont, California, as well as San Jose and finally the Oakland waterfront — all ideas that never materialized.
The plan in the Nevada Legislature won't directly raise taxes. It can move forward with a simply majority vote in the Senate and Assembly. Lawmakers have a little more than a week to consider the proposal before they adjourn June 5, though it could be voted on if a special session is called.
The Athletics have agreed to use land on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, where the Tropicana Las Vegas casino resort sits. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has said she is disappointed the team didn't negotiate with Oakland as a “true partner.”
The team and Las Vegas are hoping to draw from the nearly 40 million tourists who visit the city annually to help fill the stadium. The 30,000-seat capacity would make it the smallest MLB stadium.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday said a vote on the Oakland A's prospective move to Las Vegas could take place when owners meet June 13-15 in New York.
The plan faces an uncertain path in the Nevada Legislature. On Thursday, Democratic leaders said financing bills, including for the A's, may not go through if Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoes the five budget bills, which he has threatened to do as many of his priorities have stalled or faded in the Democraticcontrolled Legislature.
Brewers' Adames on concussion list
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames was placed on the seven-day concussion list after getting hit in the head by a foul ball in the dugout Friday night during Milwaukee's game against the San Francisco Giants.
Adames was taken to the hospital after being hit a liner off the bat of teammate Brian Anderson in the bottom of the second inning. Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Adames was released from the hospital on Saturday morning.
“All the news has been good,” Counsell said before Saturday's game against the Giants “He's in very good spirits. Everything checked out well medically.”
Video appeared to show that Adames was hit in the head or face. Counsell said tests revealed no fractures.
Anderson said it was hard to focus on baseball after Adames' injury.
“I'm really locked in when I play baseball. It was hard after that,” Anderson said Saturday. “You really realize that this is just a game when you have something like a baseball flying at your head that can take you out. It was just kind of shocking and surreal. I'm just hoping and praying for a quick recovery for Willy.”
Anderson said he didn't have a chance to speak with
Adames before he left for the hospital, but communicated afterward.
“It was a scary situation there,” Anderson said. “I think I still haven't really processed it all the way through. The main thing is just concern for Willy, about his health and hoping he's doing good. I was able to talk to him last night and it seemed like he was doing well.
“I think he was actually in better spirits than I was last night. He kept telling me, `Don't worry about me, don't worry about me.' He's a tough guy and we're going to miss having him for a couple of days. Hopefully, it will be not long. It's just a scary situation, something that you never think of happening and you hope never happens again.”