[KoNgFooCj]

Originally Posted by BBMW

The scuttlebutt is that the Rio might be torn down for an MLB stadium.

It doesn't say good things about the future of Vegas when a baseball stadium is more valuable than a casino.

Vegas will always be the casino capital of the world. A little diversification in the economy won't change that I think.

[robr2]

To be fair, Manfred said Las Vegas would be one of the place the A's could move to. Other options:

Montreal, QC
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA.

[Pershing2016]

I hope the A's do move to Vegas. Almost a natural fit for the Oakland fan base with the Raiders preceding them. Wouldn't even mess up the geography of the AL West, like a move to Montreal would do. I remember a few years back when the A's had a site picked out near San Jose - a perfectly sensible move to the largest city in the Bay Area - but were blocked by the SF Giants. The A's are second-class citizens in the Bay Area in MLB's eyes. They should move.

[AA702]

Originally Posted by Pershing2016

I hope the A's do move to Vegas. Almost a natural fit for the Oakland fan base with the Raiders preceding them. Wouldn't even mess up the geography of the AL West, like a move to Montreal would do. I remember a few years back when the A's had a site picked out near San Jose - a perfectly sensible move to the largest city in the Bay Area - but were blocked by the SF Giants. The A's are second-class citizens in the Bay Area in MLB's eyes. They should move.

The problem with the A's is the don't bring in the revenue dollars because they don't attract all the corporate money that the Giants bring. Even though the A's are in contention a lot because of a good front office they actually sqeeze as much good talent they have for the amount of money the do spend. They average only 20,000 a game in tickets sales so they wouldn't even pack the house in a 40-45K stadium. They have a loyal fanbase in the east bay and those folks have been A's fans since the 70s (which are also Raider fans mostly). If they move to Las Vegas they need to make sure they can sell tickets on a consistent basis and fill that stadium. Filling Tmobile arena is not a large feat compared to a MLB baseball team that plays 162 games.

[newopty]

Originally Posted by AA702

The problem with the A's is the don't bring in the revenue dollars because they don't attract all the corporate money that the Giants bring. Even though the A's are in contention a lot because of a good front office they actually sqeeze as much good talent they have for the amount of money the do spend. They average only 20,000 a game in tickets sales so they wouldn't even pack the house in a 40-45K stadium. They have a loyal fanbase in the east bay and those folks have been A's fans since the 70s (which are also Raider fans mostly). If they move to Las Vegas they need to make sure they can sell tickets on a consistent basis and fill that stadium. Filling Tmobile arena is not a large feat compared to a MLB baseball team that plays 162 games.

Why are you assuming the A's would have the same attendance in Las Vegas as they do in Oakland?

[AA702]

Originally Posted by newopty

Why are you assuming the A's would have the same attendance in Las Vegas as they do in Oakland?

I think they would have great attendance at first especially if everyone gets on the bandwagon and they are a playoff team. But once they start to loose 100 games or so its going to drop off like a rock. I'm just saying from having been to A's games in Oakland that they have loyal fans in the Bay Area and they only average 20K there I am not sold on them doing well here either in the long run. Hopefully they also have a plan to build a privately funded stadium and not use any of the local tax money.

[jjbradleynyc]

I think Vegas will definitely be in the mix to get a relocation team by 2025.

Other cities also in that mix are Montreal, Nashville, Portland and Charlotte.

[Willy702]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

I think Vegas will definitely be in the mix to get a relocation team by 2025.

Other cities also in that mix are Montreal, Nashville, Portland and Charlotte.

All of these other markets have far better TV markets than Las Vegas and TV money is just so important to an MLB team. I just don't see it making sense to actually move to Las Vegas, but it seems to be every league's favorite threat to get a new stadium deal.

[KoNgFooCj]

I read something today that the Las Vegas Aviators pull in nearly the same attendance as the Florida Marlins. They're not even MLB.

[Pershing2016]

Originally Posted by KoNgFooCj

I read something today that the Las Vegas Aviators pull in nearly the same attendance as the Florida Marlins. They're not even MLB.

Between the locals embracing a team they can call their own and the visiting teams giving their hometown fans one more reason to spend a few days in Vegas, I can't imagine attendance would be low the first year or two. Now if the team turns into a cellar dweller, that's another matter.