The MGM Grand Las Vegas, one of the largest and most iconic resorts on the Strip, is holding off its remodeling plans until the final designs for the Oakland A’s stadium are revealed. The resort wants to create a connection between its main entrance and the $1.5 billion ballpark, which is expected to be built across the street at the site of the Tropicana Las Vegas.
A’s stadium designs still in flux
The A’s, who are planning to relocate to Las Vegas by 2028, have not yet finalized the designs for their 33,000-seat stadium, which will have a retractable roof and a Strip-facing view. MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle said Tuesday that he has seen “three versions” of the stadium layout and is waiting to see where it will actually sit on the site.
“We’re waiting to see where that lands. I have to believe, in the next 30 to 60 days, we should find out more,” Hornbuckle said during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings conference.
The A’s have agreed to purchase 49 acres of land at Dean Martin Drive and Tropicana Avenue, with the intention of dedicating nine acres to their new home. The team and Bally’s Corporation, which operates the Tropicana, reached an agreement last month to demolish the 67-year-old resort in April to make way for the stadium.
MGM Grand plans to connect with the ballpark
Hornbuckle said the lack of clarity on the stadium designs has stalled MGM’s plans to remodel the primary entrance to the MGM Grand, which is located on the opposite side of Tropicana Avenue. He said the idea is to provide a pedestrian connection between the resort and the ballpark, which would benefit both the guests and the fans.
“We have a very large project that we’re contemplating in terms of the front entrance of MGM Grand, which is in desperate need of a redo,” Hornbuckle said. “But it’s all contingent upon how we connect to the stadium.”
Analysts have said that MGM Resorts would be the largest beneficiary from a stadium on the Strip, given that the ballpark is surrounded by five of the company’s resorts totaling more than 13,000 rooms. Sources have said that MGM representatives lobbied behind the scenes during last year’s special legislative session, encouraging lawmakers to approve a $380 million public financing package for the stadium construction. An amendment tied the legislation to the Tropicana site.
A’s seek to extend lease in Oakland
Meanwhile, the A’s are still in talks with the city of Oakland and Alameda County to extend their lease at the Oakland Coliseum, which expires after this season. The team has explored opportunities in Salt Lake City and Sacramento to play the 2025 through 2027 seasons until the Las Vegas ballpark is ready in April 2028.
However, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, by staying at the Coliseum, the A’s would remain in their market and continue receiving regional-sports-network checks, per their contract with NBC Sports California, which amounted to $67 million last year. That deal runs through 2034.
“We had a positive meeting with the City and County. We look forward to further discussions regarding a lease extension at the Coliseum for the interim period before the Vegas ballpark opens,” an A’s spokesperson said in an email.
The A’s anticipated relocation would mark the end of the team’s long tenure in Oakland, which began in 1968 after a move from Kansas City. The team has been seeking a new stadium for years, but their efforts have been met with resistance and delays from the local authorities.
