Rob Manfred: Las Vegas 'a viable alternative' to Oakland if Athletics must relocate
As the Athletics continue to fight for a new stadium in Oakland, it’s becoming increasingly clear that they have options elsewhere. One of them would be to follow their former co-tenant at the RingCentral Coliseum, the Raiders, and set up shop in Las Vegas.
If it comes to that, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred appears willing to OK a move to Vegas.
“Las Vegas is a viable alternative for a major league club,” Manfred said in a Q&A with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ahead of the All-Star Game. “There are other viable alternatives that I haven’t turned the A’s loose to even explore at this point.”
MORE: Four potential landing spots for the A’s if they relocate
The Athletics’ lease at the Coliseum runs through 2024, but MLB declared the stadium non-viable earlier during the 2021 campaign. That’s part of why Manfred gave the Athletics permission to explore a move to another market.
“The Oakland Coliseum site is not a viable option for the future vision of baseball,” the league said in a statement. “We have instructed the Athletics to begin to explore other markets while they continue to pursue a waterfront ballpark in Oakland.
