That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Even If they Strike Out in Las Vegas, A’s are not coming back to Oakland

The proposed site of the Oakland A’s new ballpark at Tropicana Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. The Nevada Legislation votes this week with a deadline of Mon Jun 5, 2023 (photo by the Las Vegas Review Journal)

Even If they Strike Out in Las Vegas, A’s are not coming back to Oakland

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–During my recent Podcast here I mentioned that the Oakland A’s cannot wait to leave Oakland. I was correct. Nevada State Senate hearing this past Monday. A joint meeting of the Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees in Carson City. It was also video-conference at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas.

Representatives for the A’s stated that if funding for the ballpark in Las Vegas doesn’t happen and they cannot get a deal, the A’s will explore other cities as relocation options, like Portland, Nashville and Salt Lake City, instead of going back to Oakland.

In other words, if they ‘strike out’ in Las Vegas, they will not entertain the idea of coming back to the table for more negotiations in Oakland. The whole session during Memorial Day lasted six hours.

Including opinions (via telephone calls) pro and con from residents, although since the chairman of the committee did not request that citizens participating disclosed their area code, there were some comments that some people from Oakland called, to “boycott” and vote against the team playing in Sin City.

The Legislative session (only hearing on the A’s stadium plan) revealed the real plans for the A’s in Las Vegas as their representatives, lawmakers and finance experts all participated. Oakland Athletics Consultant Jeremy Aguero spoke, below some of the most important points he made: – There will be no new taxes –

Project could be sustained within the sports and entertainment improving district. – State has the opportunity to recoup at least $90 million of its $180 million (Nevada is shelling $180 million in funds, while Clark County $120 million) – Relocation to Las Vegas by the major league team will NOT lead to the relocation of their Triple-A team Las Vegas Aviators.

The A’s will also have to enter into a non-relocation agreement with Las Vegas Stadium Authority for at least 30 years, Representatives for the A’s continue to make their points about the events that would take place at their new Tropicana location, like: 82 A’s games and other sports events like soccer, college baseball, volleyball, concerts, etc.

Quote by one of the A’s representatives, “This is just NOT for baseball events” He also estimated baseball events would draw 2,296,000, an average of 28,000 X 82 games. Gov. Joe Lombardo, State Treasurer Zach Conine, Clark County and the A’s all together announced the agreement for the stadium bill last week, saying Nevada’s commitment would be less than 25% of the projected $1. 5 billion project.

Governor Lombardo is expected to sign the bill if approved by all parties in Carson City, with a deadline of June 5. If approved, major league baseball will move to take a vote by all team owners, which is expected to pass with little opposition.

Where will the A’s play, since the date for inauguration of their new place in Las Vegas is now 2028 remains to be seen. They could play the whole 2024 season at the Oakland Coliseum (which they own by a 50% share and still have a lease) or they could just be playing their last season in Oakland, as like I previously stated, they cannot wait to leave Oakland.

Sacramento has also shown interest in hosting the A’s while they build a new park. From 2000 to 2014 the Sacramento Rivercats where the Triple A affiliate for the Oakland A’s, since then they are the SF Giants. Finally. If anybody wonders if Oakland could get another major league team, via an expansion team it will not be easy.

They still need a new ballpark in Oakland and as it looks now, the Howard Terminal is becoming another trivia question for the ages. It could take even longer than 2028 for the Athletics to get back to major league baseball in the city of Oakland.

If you hear this Commissioner talking about expansion in Oakland, congratulations you have a great story to tell. Las Vegas has sports fever as their Las Vegas Golden Knights are in the NHL Finals. They are facing the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead broadcast voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish Radio Network Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburgh and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Vegas Renderings take on some looks of Oakland Coliseum

Artist rendering of Tropicana Ballpark in Las Vegas in night game mode at the cost of $1.5 billion and the smallest venue in MLB with 30,000 seats near the Vegas strip (image from the Oakland Athletics)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, the renderings are out on the Las Vegas A’s new ballpark. It’s a circular looking park that take on the shape of the original Oakland Coliseum but with much less seating 30,000 the smallest park in MLB. The park has a arch above it and it looks like a see through room that would be retractable.

#2 Home plate face the Las Vegas Airport and the park is subject to FAA approval due to lighting and height when planes land and take off.

#3 The renderings of the field show that there’s lots of foul territory similar to that of the Oakland Coliseum

#4 Nevada and Clark County are committing to $380 million towards the park, $180 million in tax credits and $120 million from Clark County in issued bonds.

#5 That said Amaury how hard will this be for many of the current and former players, the fans, the jobs, that will be left behind in Oakland?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead broadcast talent on the Oakland A’s Spanish Network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 1010 KIQI Pittsburg and Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Nevada Governor announces agreement to bring A’s to Vegas

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo waves to the crowd shorty after he was inaugurated governor in Jan 2023. Lombardo announced on Wed May 24, 2023 that the State of Nevada and the Oakland A’s have reached an agreement to finance a 30,000 seat ballpark at the Tropicana Casino and Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Las Vegas Culinary Union has assured it’s working staff if the Oakland A’s and the State of Nevada will have union protected jobs at the Tropicana Casino and Resort. The Culinary Union is the strongest union in Vegas and they are assured union paying jobs as the Tropicana plans to build another tower across the street from the ballpark. The old tower will be torn down and the newer tower will be part of the square block with the A’s who will have their ballpark on nine acres of land.

Nevada governor Joe Lombardo announced on Wednesday a tentative agreement between the A’s and the State of Nevada a bill that will go forward to the Nevada Legislature that would bring Major League Baseball to Las Vegas. “The agreement follows month of negotiations between the state, the county, and the A’s and I believe it gives us a tremendous opportunity to continue building on the professional sports infrastructure of Southern Nevada.” said Lombardo.

The agreement will be drafted into legislation and later will be introduced to the Nevada State Legislature that will allow the public and lawmakers to debate over the project. Las Vegas A’s team president David Kaval said “We’re very appreciative of the support from the State of Nevada and Clark County leadership. We want to thank Governor Lombardo the Legislative leadership, the treasurer, and Clark County Commissioners and staff on the collaborative process. We look forward to advancing this legislation in a responsible way.”

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Any outside chance that Las Vegas deal would fail for A’s?

Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay looks out of the A’s dugout at the Oakland Coliseum the A’s who are in Seattle dropped the first game of a four game series on Mon May 22, 2023. Kotsay he beats himself up everyday about the struggles of the A’s. (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast:

#1 How practical is it for the Nevada tax payers to front the A’s some $200 million to 75 million to cover the existing gap to cover the $395 million to pay towards the $1.5 billion A’s new ballpark at the Tropicana site in Las Vegas. Some people interviewed in Las Vegas are against paying for a ball club that’s deliberately not trying to win and bringing them to Vegas.

#2 The A’s currently have a $59 million payroll while most of the other MLB clubs have a $100 million which keeps most of them somewhat competitive. If the A’s are in Vegas and fans are only showing up to see Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge will the A’s be able to sustain business as usual?

#3 The A’s manager Mark Kotsay said that losing is 100% his responsibility. That Kotsay beats himself up everyday about it and he doesn’t know how to hide it. It’s a constant struggle. It’s not going to change much at this point because A’s Money Ball genius Billy Beane and general manager David Forst are not going on the free agency market anytime soon.

#4 The A’s as it turned out could have pushed during their times of trying to move to San Jose that the San Francisco Giants no longer had territorial rights because those territorial rights that the A’s gave them so they could have moved to San Jose were used so they could try and build a stadium in the South Bay and once they had built their own stadium in the City they should no longer have those territorial rights anymore and the A’s should have had a chance at trying to get a ballpark in San Jose which they are being blocked by the Giants.

#5 Taxpayers in Las Vegas are skeptical about spending the $395 million of public money for the stadium tax credits towards the Tropicana Ballpark when they see how A’s owner John Fisher is not putting any money into trying to be competitive. Most likely Fisher and the A’s will be competitive after they get the new ballpark at Tropicana but on the face of it the taxpayers in Vegas are wondering if the A’s come will they continue compete with a low payroll.

#6 Do you see any outside chance that the A’s Tropicana deal could fail and Fisher would go back to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and try to iron out a deal at Howard Terminal?

#7 The NBC Bay Area Sports fired TV broadcaster Glen Kuiper for using the N word on a pre game broadcast during a series in Kansas City. Kuiper joined the A’s broadcast team in the early 90s. Some critics say you don’t use that word unless you use that word.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is taking this week off and Jerry Feitelberg is filling in for That’s Amaury News and Commentary heard Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: It comes down to $75 million?

Tropicana Hotel and Casino front entrance in Las Vegas future home of the Oakland A’s in 2027 (file photo from booking.com)

It comes down to $75 million?

That’s Amaury New and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

1-Athletics picked Wild Wild West land-site for their new stadium. The ask for public funds was $500 million

2-Days later they changed site-location and dealt with the Tropicana. Then they asked for $395 million in public funds.

3-The State of Nevada offered the A’s $320 million toward reducing the asking price of $395 million. They need $75 million to “play ball”.

4-Today (May 20) they are negotiating the gap of $75 million, which is the missing piece for the A’s to complete their $1.5 billion, 30,000 seat park.

5 – June 5 all funding must be complete and be presented to the Nevada Legislature. If the deadline is missed, the governor will get involved.

6 -Bally’s Corp, told the local Las Vegas media (reported by the Las Vegas Business Journal) last week that they hoped providing the Athletics with free land would push lawmakers to continue the momentum toward landing the team in Southern Nevada and Major League Baseball approving their relocation from Oakland.

Place your bets ladies and gentlemen.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez has been covering the Oakland A’s move to the Las Vegas Tropicana Hotel and Casino ballpark development story and does News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Athletics are On the Clock for June 5

The odds of Oakland A’s owner John Fisher putting up his own money for the $200 million gap between the A’s and Nevada Legislation to cover the Tropicana ballpark in Las Vegas is like waiting for a snowstorm in San Francisco tomorrow (file photo from the SF Chronicle)

Athletics are On the Clock for June 5

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

What an irony. In 2023 the year of the clock in baseball, the Oakland A’s have until June 5 to try to secure the public funds they need in Las Vegas. The A’s originally were asking $500 million when they were going for the 49 acres at the Wild Wild West site, but now since they dealt with the Tropicana site (Tropicana is willing to give the A’s their land for the stadium) they are asking for $395 million, a substantial reduction of $105 million.

Why are the A’s on the clock? Well, the dateline is June 5 for the A’s to have their plan approved by the Legislature in Carson City, Nevada. The legislature might be willing to approve $195 million in transferable tax credits of that $395 million as it stands today for stadium construction (according to the Independent) but they’re still short by $200 million.

Mr. Fisher could always put those $200 million of his own money (the odds of that is like expecting a snow storm in San Francisco tomorrow) to have the deal come to fruition, which more than likely will lead to the ‘shovel in the ground’ on the new park by 2024, as A’s plans call for.

Both houses of the Nevada legislature need to approve the funding package If by June 5 they have not reached a decision Joe Lombardo, Governor of Nevada, according to Nevada law, could then convene a special legislative session in trying to reach a decision.

The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting today that the State of Nevada and Clark County are ready to offer in a ballpark deal with the A’s currently at $320 million, that leaves just a $75 million dollar gap. If you are dizzy from all these numbers, do not be.

Remember, the A’s are trying to move to Las Vegas, a town that totally runs on numbers. That $75 million “Gap” should be lunch money for the billionaire owner of the A’s, or maybe a banquet for a bunch of people at Napa’s world famous French Laundry, one of California’s Governor favorite restaurants.

All reporting sources in Las Vegas agree that by next week the long awaited and late plan by the A’s will be introduced. There are only 20 days left in the Nevada legislative period, which is June 5, 2023. In Nevada Legislative sessions are held every other year in odd-numbered years, hence in 2024 they rest, Somebody asked me who owns the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: The Coliseum, along with Oracle Arena and its surrounding parking lots are owned 50% by the City of Oakland and 50% by the Oakland Athletics.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Las Vegas expansion Is more than the A’s

Actor Mark Wahlberg who is behind moving Hollywood film production to Las Vegas is one of the other major industries leaving California (AP file photo 2022)

Las Vegas expansion Is more than the A’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Major League Baseball and the Oakland Athletics are not the only ones moving to Las Vegas. Hollywood movie studios are also making the move to Sin City. A group of bipartisan Nevada lawmakers just introduced a bill that would give massive credits towards luring Hollywood film production to Las Vegas including a proposed $1 billion Sony Studios expansion. Filmmaker Mark Wahlberg is one the biggest proponents of this Hollywood studio migration to Las Vegas.

Southern Nevada is fast becoming a center for entertainment like few other cities in the world, with lots of available land, lower taxes, and less political drama, than “for example” neighboring California which has also seen an exodus of its residents to Nevada and other States that are more “tax-friendly”. An executive in the hospitality industry said, quote” “California has become prohibited for business, with so many regulations and high rates of taxes.

A Sony Studios spokesperson said the company supports the film industry expansion with a commitment of $1 billion on production over the next ten years.

After being hit by the pandemic, Nevada now has become a “happening place” and Las Vegas is at the center of it all. The Nevada lawmakers are giving $190 million in tax credits for 20 years to the people and businesses of the State. This is the largest tax incentive package in recent history

While here in the Bay Area, the departure of the Oakland A’s is big news, as the A’s would be the first franchise to relocate out of state since the Montreal Expos (who were under National League ownership) in 2005, now playing in Washington, D.C., as the Washington Nationals. They relocated out of the country from Canada to the US.

–On November 18 the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place.

–The 58th Super Bowl is scheduled to be played on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. This will mark the third straight year that the Super Bowl has been played in the Western United States.

–Las Vegas Golden Knights are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, now as the Pacific Division champions and the top seed in the Western Conference, after they missed the playoffs last season.

The A’s have company: The new trend is the “California Exodus”, as California’s population still shrinking. According to the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, California’s population declined by more than 500,000 between April 2020 and July 2022. You do not need an MBA from UCLA to know that the high cost of living in California and so many other problems, housing, homelessness, and crime in the cities have become the factors for this exodus right after the Covid years on why so many people are saying Adios to the Golden State.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Bill for A’s funding to Nevada Legislature this week

A rendering of what the Oakland A’s Tropicana ballpark would look like from the outside. If the Nevada legislation approves the $395 million needed to build the ballpark construction would start as early as 2027 (photo from @SportingTrib)

Bill for A’s funding to Nevada Legislature this week

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

(Monday May 15, 2023)

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics and Ballys Corporation struck a deal that will enable the A’s to build a park on a portion of where the Tropicana Las Vegas property is located. That property expected to be demolished this summer.

“The Tropicana has been a landmark of Las Vegas for generations, and this development will enhance this iconic site for generations to come,” Bally’s president George Papanier stated in the news release. “We are committed to ensuring that the development and ballpark built in its place will become a new landmark, paying homage to the iconic history and global appeal of Las Vegas and its nearly 50 million visitors a year.”

The Tropicana is one of the oldest Hotel-Casinos in Las Vegas. — one of the oldest operating casinos in the city — Bally’s president hinted at demolition in his statement, calling a potential ballpark a “new landmark” that would be “built in its place”: We are excited about the potential to bring Major League Baseball to this iconic location,” Athletics President Dave Kaval stated in the prepared release. “We are thrilled to work alongside Bally’s and GLPI, and look forward to finalizing plans to bring the Athletics to Southern Nevada.”

GLPI agreed to fund up to $175 million toward “shared improvements within the future development” of the property, in exchange for a rent increase. As of September 2022, Bally’s had agreed to pay $10.5 million annually as part of a 50-year lease agreement with GLPI.

Bill to the Nevada Legislature to be introduced this week: Nevada State Sen. Scott Hammond told Channel 13 Las Vegas that he has seen language for legislation, and that the public funding portion to build a stadium would total $395 million and include a tax district.

That legislation is expected to be introduced early this week, with enough time to get a deal done during this legislative session. Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred had maintained now for over a year that a move to Las Vegas by the Oakland A’s would be satisfactory for Major League Baseball since the A’s deal with Oakland was not a success, Manfred believes the A’s needed a new state-of-the-art baseball facility.

If the bill for funding is approved, next step will be to begin the construction of the park. If it doesn’t pass, then we will have another chapter of the A’s saga, but as of today, there is little doubt that the Oakland A’s now have bet “all their chips on the table” for Las Vegas.

Where will the A’s play while their new radium, planned to be inaugurated in 2027 is under construction still not certain, and even though the A’s own 50% of the Oakland Coliseum, there is a possibility that they could begin playing at Aviators Park in Las Vegas as soon as 2025, although that remains to be determined.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play talent on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Countdown to $395 M less than 30 days for A’s new Vegas ballpark

The front of the Tropicana Casino and Hotel entrance in Las Vegas site of the proposed 9 acre new ballpark location of the A’s set to open in 2027 (photo from WJAR 10 Providence)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s proposed new ballpark site in Las Vegas at the Tropicana site is facing opposition by casino owners and slowing traffic on the strip.

#2 Amaury, wanted to get your thoughts on the long shot possibility of A’s owner John Fisher selling the team to Bally’s who owns the Tropicana property and Bally’s would run the team from that point.

#3 If the tax credit fails or time runs out for the $396 million that the A’s are seeking for the Tropicana project and it’s not likely that Bally’s would put in their own money for the project unless they have ownership of the team.

#4 State of Nevada residents have sounded off that they don’t want to spend anymore public money on state funded arenas or stadiums. The Tropicana site is a nine acre site that has a reduced price tag from the Wild Wild West location that was $500 million to $395 million but that’s still not sitting well with the local tax payers.

#5 It’s been said with the expiration of last Friday’s deadline to extend the Howard Terminal plan that ship sailed and if the $395 million in tax credits fails if MLB or someone comes up with the $395 million the A’s may not have end up in a homeless situation.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the play by play of Oakland A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio network at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Memories of Oakland – (2nd in a Series) The 1979 Athletics

Former Oakland A’s infielder Mario Guerrero circa 1979 once recorded a 45 and was told by the author to keep his day job (photo from Amazon.com)

Memories of Oakland – (2nd in a Series) The 1979 Athletics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The similarities between the 1979 Oakland A’s and the 2023 Oakland A’s are truly remarkable. The 1979 team ended last (7th place) with a 54-108 record. Their attendance was 306,763, an average of 3,984 per game, the worst since the days in Philadelphia. It involves, (a) Owners, (b) City of Oakland, (c) poor performance on the field (d) very low attendance (e) one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball and (f) a future Hall of Fame player.

That season Charlie O Finley nearly sold the team to buyers who would have relocated to New Orleans, but back then the City of Oakland had smarter representatives and much more community-minded than today and the city refused to release the A’s from their lease with the Oakland Coliseum.

A year later in 1980, Finley was forced to turn to local buyers and sold the A’s to Walter Haas, Jr., president of Levi Strauss & Co for $12.7 million. This 1979 A’s team had many colorful personalities.

I remember Mario Guerrero, who played shortstop whose hobby was singing, as he gave me a copy of his 45rpm recording in Spanish of “A Mi Manera”, the classic Frank Sinatra “My Way’ one of his many big hits. When I listened to Mario’s version I had nothing but to tell him, “do not quit your day job”, he was a good guy but not a good singer. He took it well and laughed all the time with me about it.

Tony Armas had an arm from right field. Many used to say his arm was raw and not educated, but he was one of their best players and in Spring Training he (who was shy) would give me some great interviews. His good friend on that team was Dwayne Murphy who played center field.

Mitch “The Rage” Page. Who can forget him? He hustled all the time and played with a lot of passion and then there was catcher Mike Heath, Wayne Gross at third base and guys on the mound like Matt Keough and Mike Morgan and many others with personality.

Rickey Henderson. That was the brightest note in 1979 playing left field as a rookie, very fast who would go on to steal 1,406 bases, current record. After a 25 year career with various teams (including the Yankees) he seems to always come back to Oakland where he had four different stints from 1970 to 1998.

He is “The Hall of Fame” player of that 1979 team. Rickey was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009. When the team was in a hitting slump, he would get a free pass to first, steal second ( and maybe third) and then score of the sac fly. That became known as “The Rickey Run”. Rickey. Nothing more needs to be said.

“There was only one Rickey Henderson in baseball,” said George Steinbrenner, former Yanks chairman. “He was the greatest leadoff hitter of all time.”

In 1979 Julio González was my broadcast partner as the A’s carried all home weekend games, plus other selected games on BOX 19, to our left was Larry Baer, now a top executive with the SF Giants, he was a student at Cal and was broadcasting weekend games, since the A’s owner never contracted a commercial radio station, he gave the rights for $1 to the Cal Berkeley campus radio station. Yes, 1979, was a year to remember.

(Port of Oakland) The A’s lease with the port of Oakland for the site, where the baseball team hoped to build a multi-billion dollar waterfront ballpark and surrounding development, named Howard Terminal, is set to expire today, Friday May 12, 2023.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com