The Oakland Athletics have begun the process of applying to Major League Baseball (MLB) to relocate to Las Vegas. The move would require approval from at least 75% of the 30 MLB teams.
The Athletics’ lease at the Coliseum expires after the 2024 season, and it is unclear where the team would play until a new ballpark is built in Las Vegas. Las Vegas would become the fourth home for the franchise, which started in Philadelphia in 1901, moved to Kansas City, and then arrived in Oakland in 1968.
The team’s decision to relocate comes after efforts to find a solution to keep the A’s in Oakland were unsuccessful. In addition to the relocation news, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred mentioned that MLB will consider expansion only after the Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays obtain new ballparks. The Rays have been exploring potential stadium sites, and Manfred remains hopeful of progress this year.
Photo credit – Oakland AthleticsÂ