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• >> Business
• >> Allegiant Stadium

Take an exclusive look inside Allegiant Stadium

Ahead of Allegiant Stadium’s grand debut Monday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal was given an exclusive tour of the inside of the $2 billion facility.

After seeing Allegiant Stadium rise from the ground over the last 31 months, Raiders fans have been inundated with images of its exterior. But pictures of the interior have been limited to those taken at Raiders scrimmages.

That changed on Friday. Ahead of the stadium’s grand debut against the New Orleans Saints on “Monday Night Football,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal was given an exclusive tour of the inside of the $2 billion facility.

As much attention as the outside has received, the inside is even more spectacular. The 1.75-million-square-foot stadium is filled with fun features on every level.

The Raiders will begin game day in a stylish and spacious locker room. They’ll be reminded of former legendary owner Al Davis’ mantra, “Just Win, Baby,” as it’s plastered on the wall near the door to the locker room.

The field tray will be moved into Allegiant Stadium on Sunday for Monday Night Football. #vegas #raiders #stadium #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/A8wxMC1tEl — Mick Akers (@mickakers) September 18, 2020

Lined with black carpet with a silver and white zebra-like pattern, a massive Raiders shield logo is located in the middle of the room. The modern lighting gives the room a bright appearance despite all the black. A plastic barrier has been placed between each player’s locker to adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

Raiders history plays a big role throughout the stadium, including in the hallway leading to the locker room, as a Raiders Hall of Fame lines the about 50-foot-long corridor.

Along the hallways and concourse of the 200 level, various works of art hang on the walls paying homage to the team’s history and its new hometown. These go from Las Vegas-themed pieces featuring Elvis Presley, Evel Knievel, Carrot Top and other notable Las Vegas acts to Raiders-themed portraits, including Super Bowl wins and other Silver and Black memories.

Walking in Allegiant Stadium from the outside where in the field is stored in. #vegas #raiders #stadium #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/hDAidL2Dy0 — Mick Akers (@mickakers) September 18, 2020

The more than 100 pieces of art located in the stadium were created by local Las Vegas artists and former Raiders players, such as ex-quarterback Todd Marinovich.

The 93-foot-tall Al Davis Torch Memorial Torch stands tall at the north end of the stadium, with the silver carbon fiber arching toward the ceiling and an LED flame in the middle. The torch is surrounded by a 55,000-square-foot club that has the “billion” dollar view, as Don Webb, chief operating officer of the Raiders’ construction subsidiary, coined it, through the massive lanai doors.

The view of the Las Vegas Strip, Raiders President Marc Badain maintains, is more spectacular than any view from any other stadium in the world.

The hallway that the Raiders locker room is located on in Allegiant Stadium has a Raiders Hall of Fame. #vegas #raiders #stadium #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/r1StauMBhP — Mick Akers (@mickakers) September 18, 2020

The 127 suites will take game day to another level for fans. The white marble flooring gives the suites an upscale look as soon as you enter the space. Surrounded by televisions, luxury seating and multiple phone-charging stations and drink holders designed to keep beverages ice-cold, suite guests can be assured they have the best seats in the house.

Standing on ground level of the stadium gives one a sense of its vast size, as you take in the 65,000 seats and the massive video boards on each side of the stadium and the thousands of square feet of video ribbon boards that line each level of the stadium.

Still, the Al Davis torch stands out when standing on the far south end of the stadium, which is fitting. This stadium, after all, is the culmination of his dream.

Mark Davis has called the stadium the “Raider Nation Field of Dreams,” and the attention to detail all around the building will make that dream a reality come Monday night.

Contact Mick Akers at [email protected] or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.

The Raiders and NV Energy joined forces to provide eventgoers at Allegiant Staidum with the ability to charge electric vehicles.

The Raiders and Allegiant Stadium have signed a multiyear partnership extension with Ticketmaster.

Since EDM superstar Illenium became the first act to play Allegiant Stadium on July 3, 2021, the venue has hosted nearly two dozen acts.

Allegiant Stadium has seen over 4 million fans attend events at the $2 billion, nearly four-year-old facility, according to Las Vegas Stadium Authority data.

The Oakland Athletics’ community benefits plan was unanimously approved by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board.

The A’s community benefits plan is up for possible vote at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority board meeting

The proposed Boring Company Vegas Loop station at Allegiant Stadium is planned to be added to Lot B of the 62-acre site.

Las Vegas’ first Super Bowl lived up to the billing Sunday with a sellout crowd of 61,629 fans filling Allegiant Stadium.

Capacity for Sunday’s Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium will be just less than what can be hosted for a regular season Raiders home game.

People want to know if Gerard DeCosta really did commit what all Raiders fans would consider a mortal sin. If the lifelong Chiefs fan really pulled off such a (creative and daring) move.

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Raiders stadium tour? shop? - Oakland Forum

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Long time Raider fan (26 years) visiting Oakland for the first time in September. Is there a stadium tour/Raider shop etc?

Thanks in advance.

Here's the closest Raiders shop to SF. It looks like it would be about a 20-minute walk from the Coliseum BART station.

http://oaklandraiders.stores.yahoo.net/oakland-hegenberger.html

Here's a stadium tour. I don't know if they'll be offering tours in September, so you'll have to email them. The tours are run by the Oakland A's baseball team rather than the Raiders, but you'd get to see the stadium up-close.

http://mlb.mlb.com/oak/ballpark/tours.jsp

Along with the popular "I got crabs in San Francisco " shirts that you are obligated to buy at Fisherman's Wharf , there's also a place at Pier 39 that sells lots of (US) football gear, and I'd imagine they sell some Raiders paraphernalia. I haven't been in there for a couple years, so I can't remember what exactly is for sale.

Rather than walking from the Coliseum BART to the Raiders shop, it might be a better idea to take the AC Transit #50 bus from the BART station to the shop.

Raider shops throughout the Bay area including The Southland Mall in Hayward.

Unless things have changed, there are no Coliseum Tours.

The Raiders only play 2 home games in September, sandwiched between a couple of A's homestands. The two dates are the 14th (a good Monday night matchup with the Chargers) and the 27th. Those would proably be the only 2 times you would find more people selling Raiders stuff. Some of the more permanent stores as mentioned before would have Raiders gear.

Yes, there is a clothing store at Pier 39 that sells football clothing of all sorts, including several college teams. (But not mine, grrr!) At least it was there a year ago when I was most recently unfortunately enough to be dragged there by visitors... ;)

The Raiders shops on Hegenberger in Oakland and at Southland Mall in Hayward are good options. The latter is out of the way, so I suggest the Hegenberger location. However, be sure to catch a bus (AC Transit Route 50) there from the BART station. It is not a safe walk, both in terms of traffic and "neighborhood quality" (freeway overpasses, train tracks, etc.).

The store at Pier 39 is a good idea. Last time I was there a couple of the Raiderette Cheerleaders were there signing pictures and posing for pictures.

Perhaps some of the locals can chime in about the regularity of these visits and how to find out the schedule. Maybe a call to the store?

"...Yes, there is a clothing store at Pier 39 that sells football clothing of all sorts, including several college teams. (But not mine, grrr!)"

This is simply a statement of fact, and my having gone to USC has nothing to do with this sound advice.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Ranked: The Best (And Worst) NFL Stadiums

Posted: April 26, 2024 | Last updated: April 26, 2024

When a NFL fan goes to watch their favorite team in person, they want to feel like a part of the team. There's a reason Seahawks' fans are known as the "12th Man". Some stadiums are perfect for fans to yell and scream at the top of their lungs, disrupting the rhythm of the enemy. Other stadiums don't offer the same reward. Some are out of the way and nearly impossible to get to while others look like they haven't been renovated in 100 years.

These are the best and worst stadiums for fans to experience the rush of the NFL! Continue reading to find out more!

BEST - Lambeau Field (Packers)

Not only are the Green Bay Packers one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NFL, but they also play in one of the league's most iconic stadiums. Lambeau Field originally opened in 1957, and in 2024 has a maximum capacity of 81,441.

Fans at Lambeau are relentless when it comes to creating a home-field advantage. That, along with the frigid cold of Wisconsin, make this stadium a nightmare for everyone except Packers' fans.

WORST - Dignity Health Sports Park (Chargers)

When the Chargers moved from San Diego to Los Angeles, they somehow managed to end up in a downgraded stadium that only holds 27,000. Built for soccer, Dignity Health Sports Park was not only small, but also not easy for fans to get to.

Because of this, Chargers' games ended up feeling more like away games for the team than home games. The good news is that in 2020 the Chargers officially moved into their shiny new shared stadium with the Rams, the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles!

BEST - Century Link Field (Seahawks)

When the Seahawks are playing winning football, few places are more exciting for a fan to be than Century Link Field. 'Hawks fans are loud, and regularly disrupt the timing of opposing offenses. This is why their fans are known as the "12th Man".

On top of the fan experience, Century Link Field is also architecturally stunning, with amazing views of downtown Seattle. Of course, when you're at the game the only views you're paying attention to are players dominating on the field.

WORST - Alameda County Coliseum (Raiders)

In 2020, The formerly-Oakland Raiders moved out of Oakland into a shiny new home in Las Vegas. Before that, however, they played in one of the worst stadiums in the league.

The "Black Hole" could get loud and the fans were loyal, but this was not an ideal place to watch a game. Essentially a cement bowl, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum lacked modern amenities that fans craved and, as you can see, was an eyesore to look at.

BEST - Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Falcons)

Opened in 2017, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the home of the Atlanta Falcons, and one of the most exciting stadiums ever built. On top of being an architectural beauty, the 71,000 seat stadium as innovative as it gets regarding the fan experience.

Before opening up, Falcons' owner Arthur Blank proclaimed that hot dogs would cost two dollars, and beer would cost four. Since then he's stuck to his word, and even dropped the prices of dogs in 2019 to $1.50!

WORST - FedEx Field (Commanders)

The Washington Commanders opened FedEx Field in 1997, and are already trying to move. The stadium itself is unspectacular, hard to get to, and lacks unique amenities.

In 2021, the capacity of the stadium was cut from over 91,000 seats to just 58,000.

BEST - U.S. Bank Stadium (Vikings)

Another newer stadium, this time in Minnesota, and it couldn't have come at a better moment for the franchise. After opening its doors in 2016, the Vikings became an NFL powerhouse, ensuring that all 66,000-73,000 seats would be filled.

Like Century Link Field, U.S. Bank Stadium features gorgeous views of downtown Minnesota. The dome roof is also retractable if the autumn winds decide to cooperate, too. Of course, when it stays closed, the fans sound extra loud to the opposition. The Athletic even named this the best venue in the NFL!

WORST - Highmark Stadium (Bills)

More outdated than anything, the Highmark Stadium is a relic of an older NFL era. Built from cement, the stadium opened in 1973 and holds 71,000 screaming fans. For many, the tailgate outside is more exciting, though.

Inside, especially once winter hits, temperatures become frigid, making fans uninterested in going to games unless the team is winning. In more recent years, there have been rumors that the Bills were looking to leave Buffalo entirely, but so far nothing has happened.

BEST - Acrisure Stadium (Steelers)

When the Steelers are winning at home, few stadium experiences are better than Acrisure Stadium. Fans are so loud that opposing offenses usually have to rely on a silent snap count to start plays.

As for the stadium itself - it's a state of the art facility with fantastic views. It's just hard to focus on the views when the action on the field demands so much attention!

WORST - Paycor Stadium (Bengals)

When the Bengals are good, Paycor Stadium can be a fun place to watch a game. When they aren't, the stands sit empty, freezing over in the cold Cincinnati winter.

The stadium, which was opened in 2000, holds 66,000 fans and has decent views. Like Buffalo, though, it's known more for the tailgating in the parking lot than the game being played on the field.

BEST - Gillette Stadium (Patriots)

The only problem we can think of with Gillette Stadium is that it can be hard for fans to get to. When your team has won six Super Bowls since the stadium opened in 2002, however, fans find a way.

New England always has a packed house thanks to what might be the greatest run in modern sports history.

WORST - Levi's Stadium (49ers)

Fans wish they could love Levi's Stadium. Unfortunately, it's located 40 miles south of San Francisco and reflects the heat of the sun onto the crowd.

BEST - MetLife Stadium (Jets/Giants)

MetLife Stadium is the beautiful home of the New York Jets and New York Giants. Created and designed with the quick changeover in mind, there's not a bad seat in the house.

If there is anything to complain about with MetLife, it's the co-partnership between the two teams, making it hard to get a real home-field advantage. At the end of the day, who does the stadium really belong to?

WORST - Hard Rock Stadium (Dolphins)

While Hard Rock Stadium seems to improve every year, it's still not up to par with the best in the league. Opened in 1987 as a multi-purpose stadium, several renovation projects have turned the Dolphins home into exactly that - a home.

One of the biggest knocks on the stadium is its vulnerability to weather. Florida heat and humidity can be brutal, so having an open-air stadium can make for an uncomfortable fan experience.

BEST - AT&T Stadium (Cowboys)

Opened in 2009 with a maximum capacity of 100,000 fans, AT&T Stadium cost over one billion dollars, and it's easy to see why. The massive home of the Cowboys is packed with features an amenities.

When the Cowboys make the playoffs, not many stadiums get louder. Without question, this is a must-visit stadium for any sports or music fans. Just imagine watching The Rolling Stones play here!

WORST - The Ceasars Superdome (Saints)

This is the home of the Saints and has been in business since 1975. As one of the NFL's older stadiums, it's also one of the least interesting.

The good news is that Saints fans don't seem to care about the condition of the stadium the game is being played. They show up, and they get loud!

BEST - Arrowhead Stadium (Chiefs)

The best home-field advantage in the NFL belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs. No fans in the league are louder. No wonder the Chiefs are perennially in playoff contention!

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Arrowhead Stadium is just how old it is. Opened in 1972, it's barely showing signs of age and is still considered a premier football destination for fans to watch games.

WORST - Ford Field (Lions)

There's nothing that sets this stadium apart from others, and space is limited in the parking lot for tailgating.

With a maximum capacity of 65,000, Ford Field somehow feels larger, especially with empty seats. Outside, despite limited space, the venue has helped rejuvenate the surrounding downtown Detroit area.

BEST - Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles)

Opened in 2003, Lincoln Financial wasn't properly showcased until Doug Pedersen came to town and led the Eagles franchise to its first Super Bowl title. Of course, the fans always packed the stadium, now they just have that extra decibel of pride they've been seeking for so long.

The stadium itself has plenty of room for tailgating, is easy to get to, and is packed with amenities. The only reason you might not want to go is if you're a visiting fan. Home fans can be brutal here!

WORST - Bank Of America Stadium (Panthers)

The Bank of America Stadium used to be one of the best venues in the NFL. As the home of the Carolina Panthers, years of renovations have largely failed to keep it feeling like a modern facility.

BEST - M&T Bank Stadium (Ravens)

Even though M&T Bank Stadium, or "Ravens Stadium," was opened back in 1998, it's currently rated as one of fans' favorite NFL stadiums. It ranks high for accessibility, for visitor amenities, and for concessions.

Also, the Ravens tend to play really well on their home turf, which helps the stadium's popularity among fans. Kevin Cowherd of the Baltimore Sun wrote, "Bank Stadium ranks as the NFL's toughest venue for opposing teams.... [O]ver the past 10 years, the Ravens have the NFL's biggest differential between home (.771) and road (.415) winning percentage."

WORST - Cleveland Browns Stadium (Browns)

Located right by the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, Lake Erie, and all the other great things in downtown Cleveland, you might think the Cleveland Browns Stadium is another Ohio gem. But you'd be mistaken. In fact, many people call this stadium the "Factory of Sadness." Ouch.

Some even go so far as to call this one of the absolute worst home fields in the league. It's outdated and is blasted with frigid air from the lake in cooler months. At least tickets to see the Browns play here are usually pretty inexpensive.

BEST - State Farm Stadium (Cardinals)

In 2019, State Farm Stadium was ranked the 8th-best stadium in the country by the Big Lead. "From epic playoff games to epic Super Bowls. State Farm Stadium has just about seen it all and thrived. With a retractable roof and retractable field, it's one of the more versatile stadiums in the country."

The biggest drawback to this great stadium is transportation -- it's pretty far out from Phoenix and hard to get to via public transportation. State Farm Stadium opened in 2006.

WORST - Soldier Field (Bears)

Although Soldier Field is set in a prime spot -- right in the heart of Chicago -- it doesn't fare too well in fan rankings. That's primarily because the stadium is outdated and has costly ticket prices. It's also the third-smallest stadium in the NFL.

The worst part is that Soldier Field was actually given a major renovation in 2002 and it already feels old to many fans. That overhaul also lowered its capacity and removed the stadium's status as a National Historic Landmark. Sounds like a bad idea!

BEST - Lucas Oil Stadium (Colts)

The Colts must have been glad to make the move to the multi-purpose Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008, with its climate-controlled interior. Thanks to a retractable roof and enormous windows, sunlight can pour onto the field while keeping the Indiana cold outside where it belongs.

Lucas Oil Stadium is also conveniently located right in downtown Indianapolis, near the area's other top sports arenas. An underground walkway safely connects the stadium to the Indiana Convention Center, yet another asset the 70,000-capacity arena boasts.

WORST - Raymond James Stadium (Buccaneers)

While not the worst of the bunch, Raymond James Stadium, or "Ray Jay" to fans, gets low marks for being pretty ordinary. For starters, it's not located in downtown Tampa which limits pre-game activities.

Opened in 1998, the stadium has hosted Super Bowls, national championships, and much more. The Bucs' home does have a unique look, as it houses a giant pirate ship replica. This gives fans some fun photo opportunities, helping to make up for the lack of nearby attractions.

BEST - Empower Field At Mile High (Broncos)

Throughout its many name changes over the years, the Broncos' home turf is consistently a fan favorite, primarily due to its unique atmosphere. It also boasts one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL.

In 2020, ESPN named it as the ninth-best stadium in the league. "Denver ranked right in the middle in many categories, but it does have plenty of character: The Mile High Salute, the 'In-com-plete' chant; there's even a horse that parades around the field," read the positive review.

WORST - EverBank Stadium (Jaguars)

Some aging stadiums hold up over the years, keeping their charm and appeal to fans. Sadly for the Jaguars, EverBank Stadium is not among them. In fact, the stadium was named the second-worst in the country by The Athletic in 2020, coming in only behind FedEx Field.

According to former Jaguar reporter Daniel Popper, fans must endure "blistering heat and sun in certain parts of the stands. The stadium hasn't received a significant renovation... since it was erected in 1995."

BEST - Allegiant Stadium (Raiders)

One of the newest stadiums on the list also gets some of the best ratings, at least so far. In 2020, the Las Vegas Raiders moved to their new home, Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. Early reviews of the stadium, already known as "The Death Star," were positive, with the Las Vegas Sun calling it "the best home venue in the nation."

With a seating capacity of 65,000, a retractable field tray, and tons of visitor amenities, Allegiant Stadium is a winning bet for fans!

WORST - Nissan Stadium (Titans)

MoneyWise once wrote of Nissan Stadium: "The high prices at the concession stands guarantee that fans save their money for the bars and restaurants outside, after the game. Plus, there are limited restroom facilities for women."

On the plus side, the stadium is conveniently located near downtown Nashville, making it easy for Titans fans to get to. Other than that, it doesn't have too many special offerings.

BEST - SoFi Stadium (Chargers, Rams)

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, has been called "revolutionary" for all of its amazing, state-of-the-art amenities which include a 4K HDR video board that is suspended from the roof over the field.

The facility is a year-round, indoor-outdoor venue with seating for 70,000 in the stadium. There's also a huge performance space and 2.5-acre public plaza, all of it adjacent to a community park complete with a lake. Opened in September of 2020, SoFi Stadium offers something for every fan.

WORST - NRG Stadium (Texans)

The Houston Texans' home stadium might not be a dud with most fans, which explains how it hosted a Super Bowl and several Final Fours over the years, but it doesn't offer too much excitement, either.

Although it's been maintained to look and feel modern and up-to-date (including its restrooms), there's not much to do around the stadium and traffic can be a nightmare to get through. Overall, it's not close to the worst but has a lot of newer stadiums to compete with these days.

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Opinion Columnists | Opinion: California seeks to reform ticket…

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Opinion Columnists | Opinion: California seeks to reform ticket sales. Warriors, 49ers fight back

There's no good reason to exempt sports from bill aiming to reshape live event ticketing to benefit consumers.

As warmer weather arrives, Californians are thinking about the next live sporting event or outdoor concert with family and friends. But what used to be a straightforward experience of getting tickets has morphed into a complex and costly endeavor, all thanks to the Live Nation and Ticketmaster stranglehold over consumers.

Since the two companies merged in 2010, Live Nation Entertainment has built a monopolistic empire controlling the management of venues for live sports and concerts, and also the process for buying tickets.

The monopoly now  controls an estimated 80% of primary ticket sales  nationwide, and holds contracts with  78% of the top-grossing arenas . The monopoly is also the dominant player in the secondary resale market, with upwards of  two-thirds of the market share , according to reports.

Who loses because in all this? You, the consumer. Our wallets have been hit hard: Ticket prices have more than doubled since Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged, surging by an alarming 140% even when adjusted for inflation.

The monopoly is finally facing scrutiny from government watchdogs. Last week, the federal Justice Department revealed plans to  file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment for allegedly undermining competition in the live event ticketing marketplace, thereby violating a prior agreement they signed onto — and, potentially, federal antitrust law.

In California, legislation by Assemblymember  Buffy Wicks , an Oakland Democrat, aims to  inject much-needed competition and choice  back into the marketplace. To transform live sports ticketing for the better,  her proposal  addresses several key areas: Lowering fees, empowering fans, improving their experience and increasing competition.

Assembly Bill 2808 introduces greater transparency and choice into the ticketing process — incentivizing ticket sellers to enhance services, provide clearer pricing structures and reduce fees for consumers.

Consumers also deserve control over their tickets. The bill guarantees the right to gift, donate or resell tickets without unnecessary restrictions imposed by ticket sellers.

Importantly, the reforms dismantle exclusive contracts stifling competition and limiting choice for fans. For example, sports teams should partner with multiple ticketing platforms to foster a more competitive marketplace — not just Ticketmaster.

Of course, the Live Nation monopoly vehemently opposes such reforms, given their vested interest in maintaining control over ticket distribution and pricing. More surprising, however, is opposition from  some of California’s biggest professional sports franchises , including the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.

They are lobbying to exempt sports from Wicks’ bill. This would be a huge mistake given the presence of professional sports in California and Ticketmaster’s control of more than 80% of NFL, NBA and NHL ticketing.

There is no justifiable rationale to exempt sports, other than that these teams and their billionaire owners directly benefit from inflated ticket prices — even when it means hurting loyal fans.

A monopoly shouldn’t dictate the terms. California needs to act on behalf of millions of fans and reshape live event ticketing to rightly benefit consumers.

With reform, we can restore fairness, affordability and accessibility to live sports and concerts, allowing more people a chance to attend. Let’s prioritize fans over monopolies and ensure California is leading the way by protecting consumers.

Robert Herrell is the executive director of the Consumer Federation of California, a nonprofit advocating for consumer rights. He wrote this column for CalMatters.

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The Raiders take the national primetime stage for their first home game of the 2023 season, taking on the Steelers at 5:20 p.m.

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Oakland A's say team is moving to Las Vegas after signing deal to purchase land for new stadium

April 20, 2023 / 10:31 AM EDT / CBS/AP

The Oakland Athletics have signed a binding agreement to purchase land for a new retractable roof ballpark in Las Vegas after being unable to build a new venue in the Bay Area.

Team president Dave Kaval said Wednesday night the team finalized a deal last week to buy the 49-acre site where the A's plan to build the stadium close to the Las Vegas Strip with a seating capacity of 30,000 to 35,000.

"We have a path in Las Vegas that can put the franchise on solid footing," Kaval told CBS News  on Thursday.

The Oakland @Athletics  have reached a deal to build a new stadium in Las Vegas. Team president Dave Kaval explains the decision to leave the city. “We have a path in Las Vegas that can put the franchise on solid footing," he tells CBS News. https://t.co/L5H2L34F7Q pic.twitter.com/UudwjlmyNQ — CBS News (@CBSNews) April 20, 2023

The A's will work with Nevada and Clark County on a public-private partnership to fund the stadium. Kaval said the A's hope to break ground by next year and would hope to be move to their new home by 2027.

"It's obviously a very big milestone for us," Kaval said. "We spent almost two years working in Las Vegas to try to determine a location that works for a long-term home. To identify a site and have a purchase agreement is a big step."

The A's relocation plan includes passing a bill through the legislature "to create a funding mechanism, including a special taxation district covering the stadium site, which would allow for sales tax proceeds to be reinvested in the area, along with an allocation of transferable tax credits estimated to be worth around $500 million,"  according to the Nevada Independent .

The A's had been looking for a new home for years to replace the outdated and run-down Oakland Coliseum, where the team has played since arriving from Kansas City for the 1968 season. They had sought to build a stadium in Fremont and San Jose before shifting their attention to the Oakland waterfront.

Las Vegas would be the fourth home for a franchise that started as the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901-54.

"We're turning our full attention to Las Vegas," Kaval said. "We were on parallel paths before. But we're focused really on Las Vegas as our path to find a future home for the A's."

Commissioner Rob Manfred said in December the A's would not have to pay a relocation fee if the team moved to Las Vegas.

"We're past any reasonable timeline for the situation in Oakland to be resolved," Manfred said then.

Governor Joe Lombardo told CBS affiliate KLAS-TV said that a deal with the Athletics would be great news for southern Nevada.

"The prospect of bringing new jobs, more economic development, and an exceptional MLB team to Las Vegas is exciting on many levels," Lombardo said in a statement.  

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said in a statement that she was disappointed the A's didn't negotiate with the city as a "true partner."

"The city has gone above and beyond in our attempts to arrive at mutually beneficial terms to keep the A's in Oakland," she said. "In the last three months, we've made significant strides to close the deal. Yet, it is clear to me that the A's have no intention of staying in Oakland and have simply been using this process to try to extract a better deal out of Las Vegas. I am not interested in continuing to play that game - the fans and our residents deserve better.

"I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished as a City, including securing a fully entitled site and over $375 million in new infrastructure investment that will benefit Oakland and its Port for generations to come. In a time of budget deficits, I refuse to compromise the safety and well-being of our residents. Given these realities, we are ceasing negotiations and moving forward on alternatives for the redevelopment of Howard Terminal."

The A's would be only the second MLB team to change cities in more than a half-century. Since the Washington Senators became the Texas Rangers for 1972, the only team to relocate was the Montreal Expos, who became the Washington Nationals in 2005.

The A's lease at the Coliseum expires after the 2024 season. The A's has struggled to draw fans to the Coliseum in recent years as owner John Fisher has slashed payroll and many of the team's most recognizable stars have been traded away.

Oakland had the lowest opening day payroll in baseball at $58 million - less than the combined salaries of Mets pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, who tied for the major league high of $43.3 million.

The team is 3-16 this season and has been outscored by 86 runs - the worst mark through 19 games since 1899. The average attendance through 12 home games this season is 11,027 for the lowest mark in the majors and less than half of the league average of about 27,800. The A's haven't drawn 2 million fans at home since 2014 -- their only year reaching the mark since 2005.

If the A's leave Oakland, the city with a rich sports tradition would have no major pro sports teams with the NFL's Raiders having moved to Las Vegas in 2020 and the NBA's Warriors moving across the bay to San Francisco in 2019.

"We know it's a difficult message for our folks in Oakland," Kaval said. "Obviously we're grateful for all the hard work that went into the waterfront. But we have been unable to achieve success or make enough progress."

Las Vegas is quickly become a sports mecca after years of being considered a pariah because of ties to the gambling industry. With gambling legalized in much of the country, the city now could have a baseball team to join the NHL's Golden Knights, who began as an expansion team in 2017 and the Raiders.

The stadium would be located near the homes of the Raiders and the Golden Knights, CBS Sports reports .

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A year ago, the Oakland A’s announced their Vegas move. Then the real drama started

Rooted in Oakland.

That was the slogan, the motto that was supposed to define the ethos of the Oakland Athletics under the leadership of John Fisher and Dave Kaval. They hung signs from the stadium facade and plastered the hashtag on social media. The A’s were about history and community. Their decrepit stadium and its concrete masses could be an eyesore, but the old place had its charm. Oakland’s small attendance numbers could be trumped by the right-field drums and the die-hard loyalties of the people who showed up every single night.

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People like Bryan Johansen, whose fandom took on a life of its own when team social media accounts posted his candid reaction — “what the f—?” — after outfielder Ramon Laureano was hit by a pitch for the 11th time in 2019. Johansen is an Oakland lifer with the team’s script logo tattooed on his forearm. His Laureano post spawned memes, which morphed into a cottage industry featuring shirts, mugs, hats, banners, all saluting the audacious nature of Oakland fandom. While team executives explored options for a glitzy new ballpark complete with gondolas transporting fans from BART Stations to the ballpark, a New York Times article celebrated the Oakland Coliseum ’s debaucherous depravity. The article called the Coliseum baseball’s last dive bar, and Johansen thought, “Man, that’s the most beautiful line I’ve ever heard talking about this stadium.”

Under the new moniker “The Last Dive Bar,” a fan effort led by Johansen and cofounders Paul Bailey and Carl Moren grew. Managing products and events turned into a sort of second job for Johansen, who works for Tesla in process engineering by day. Last Dive Bar formed a partnership with the A’s. Players wore their shirts; they had an official deal with Starling Marte. It was the kind of grassroots fan-led effort most franchises dream of cultivating.

Which made it all the more tragic when its founders evolved into unwitting ringleaders of an anti-ownership movement. Last season, the group partnered with another fan group, the Oakland 68s, to help organize a reverse boycott, in which supporters donned green shirts with the word SELL plastered on the front and coordinated chants echoed throughout the stadium from start to finish. In a season with an average attendance of 10,276, the game drew 27,759 fans. It was a rebellious moment that focused the attention of the sports world on Oakland, and it was a success. But it was also a last resort, a desperate measure by a group that felt it had little choice left.

“I don’t want people to just focus on the boycott,” Johansen said, “because that’s not what we are. We’re forced to be that because of this ownership group.”

It’s always a painful thing, a civic institution severing ties to a city. The Colts first left Baltimore under the cover of night, there one day and gone the next. The people of Seattle felt the SuperSonics were swindled from under their feet. The A’s are leaving Oakland under a different set of circumstances: a long, slow, tragic burn.

One year ago, in April of 2023, the franchise announced an agreement to purchase land for a new ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip, one of baseball’s proudest franchises seduced by the temptations of Sin City. The announcement featured few certain details about the stadium and its financing plan. It also did not specify where the A’s would play in the interim. Hope remained the A’s might stay in Oakland, at least for a few more years.

Now — after a year of total uncertainty, many unanswered questions and more public relations gaffes — the A’s are scheduled to play in Sacramento for at least 2025-27. They will take over a Triple-A ballpark that currently accommodates 14,014 fans and has clubhouses located near the outfield, spending a mininum of three seasons in a limbo so total that they will not even take on the name of the city they’re using as a stopover. No longer the Oakland Athletics, not yet the Vegas Athletics, and unwilling to become the Sacramento Athletics, they will simply be the Athletics — generic, nomadic, unremarkable.

“It’s like a death in the family, and your own family member murdered the person,” Johansen said. “It’s horrible. There’s no words to describe it. There’s teams that have relocated before and it hurts and it’s painful. … But this is the most long, drawn out relocation process in probably the history of sports. And the ugliest, too.”

The morning after A’s players learned they will spend the next three seasons in Sacramento, the mood in the team’s young, largely anonymous clubhouse was business as usual. In some ways, they’re used to the turmoil; it’s the only major league life many of them have ever known.

On the field, this year’s young A’s feature few recognizable faces. The team’s $61 million payroll, per Spotrac, ranks last in the league. Its farm system ranks 30th out of 30 . Among the most famous draft picks in an era of struggles is Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray , whom the organization drafted No. 9 overall but was unable to lure away from the NFL .

Anonymous as this current group is, these are the players who will go down as the faces of the A’s final year in Oakland.

“We’re kind of caught in the middle,” outfielder Brent Rooker said, “and it’s a tough place to be at times.”

Multiple members of the team said their concerns over the franchise’s future centered mostly on where they and their families may be living next year. It’s a strange situation, one where most of the players have been here only a couple of years. The fans feel the pain of a much longer timeline.

“I think the loyalty from the fan base is what stands out,” Rooker said of playing for the A’s. “The people who show up to the games you get to know on a personal level because they’re there every day. They show up day in, day out. You get to talk to them, you hang out with them at times when you’re playing and develop relationships with them.”

In Oakland, only one player has been on the roster more than six years. That is starting pitcher Paul Blackburn , who grew up in the East Bay and attended games at the Coliseum as a boy. More than any other player, he understands the wrinkled emotions that have led fans to hoist SELL THE TEAM banners, to stage elaborate reverse boycotts, to lead chants and sell wristbands and engage in a most quixotic effort to have their opinions matter.

“It’s a very interesting situation,” Blackburn said. “Especially being from there and just having a lot of memories going to games there as a kid … Honestly I kind of just feel bad for the community, the fans in general.”

The emotions were more palpable across the hall, where one of the players in the Detroit Tigers’ clubhouse was outfielder Mark Canha , a San Jose native who rooted for the San Francisco Giants growing up. Canha matured into a Rule 5 pick and a member of the A’s from 2015-21. He posted an emotional farewell after leaving the organization in 2021. He spoke of returning to Oakland as a member of the New York Mets and still getting greeted by the smiling faces of team employees.

“It’s hard not to be nostalgic about the stadium you made your debut in that’s 40 miles from the house you grew up in,” Canha said. “I’ll never shame the Coliseum for what it is. It’s a beautiful place for me. Other people might say some things about it, but I love it.”

Detroit manager A.J. Hinch was drafted by the A’s and played for the organization from 1997-2000. He spoke for many in the sport when a reporter asked for his take on the A’s going to Sacramento.

“The decisions and all that stuff to leave is way above my pay grade, but I know what the fans bring to Oakland, I know wearing the green and gold matters to that group that’s there,” Hinch said. “And it’s just kind of sad. … There will be a hole in the league because Oakland doesn’t have a team.”

As A’s players focus on staying in the major leagues, proving themselves, trying to play well and tread water, they do so against a low, steady hum of controversy. Earlier in April, social media was set ablaze when Johansen reacted to news the A’s had demoted outfielder Esteury Ruiz , a negative-WAR player who nonetheless stole 67 bases in 2023. Ruiz was among players who was known to wear one of the yellow rubber “I Stand With Oakland” bracelets produced by Last Dive Bar. That same day, Rooker was not in the starting lineup. Johansen posted from the Last Dive Bar X account, showing photos of Ruiz and Rooker wearing the bracelets. “Rooker benched, Ruiz sent down,” the post read. “One has to wonder why …”

Rooker benched, Ruiz sent down. One has to wonder why… pic.twitter.com/tscp9KnFnQ — Last Dive Bar 🏟 (@LastDiveBar) April 1, 2024

Soon the Last Dive Bar account, on April Fool’s Day nonetheless, was feeding into the melodrama, posting photoshopped “evidence” of the wristbands on John F. Kennedy, Bigfoot, Jimmy Hoffa and Jesus Christ. The whole thing was ludicrous. But because this is Oakland, Rooker was soon having to dispel rumors of a WristbandGate conspiracy to the media.

“In any other organization, it wouldn’t have grown legs,” Johansen said. “It would have just been like something silly, no way that’s even possible. But in this instance, it’s feasible. And that just speaks volumes to how this front office is run, this organization and how people view this organization.”

They envisioned the site from the sky. It was 2016 when Fisher and his associates climbed high atop a crane to overlook the site at Howard Terminal on the Oakland Estuary, the area in the Port of Oakland where they devised an ambitious plan to bring $11 billion worth of development and a $1.2 billion ballpark. The glittering Bay Area views symbolized lofty promise. But not all the settlers who first came to the Bay struck gold.

As the Howard Terminal plan unfolded, officials from the City of Oakland were eager to keep the A’s in The Town. The Warriors were already leaving for San Francisco, the Raiders already headed to Vegas. Here Fisher and the city were negotiating on what could have been a mutually beneficial plan, even if it always had obvious pitfalls. The Howard Terminal site, for instance, lacked built-in public transit infrastructure — hence unusual ideas like the plan’s proposed gondolas. Fisher spent more than $100 million on permits and other clearances for the site, and the City of Oakland narrowed the gap in funding for the $12 billion project to less than $100 million. But as deliberations grew more serious, with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting in the midst of planning, progress slowed. The A’s pointed to opposition from the Oakland City Council and local interest groups as a detriment. By May of 2021, MLB directed the A’s to explore the idea of a ballpark in Las Vegas. Kaval soon said the A’s were on a “parallel path” regarding possible ballparks in either Oakland or Las Vegas.

“John Fisher has proven one thing: He’s never been able to put a shovel in the ground anywhere,” Johansen said. “There’s always been doubt in John Fisher himself to get anything done, but the Howard Terminal plan was just completely over the top, just outlandish.”

Meanwhile, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum fell into disrepair. Possums in the broadcast booth, mice in the vending machines, sewage in the visiting dugout. As the organization set its sights on other horizons, the franchise that first sparked baseball’s analytics revolution fielded gutted rosters, including a 2023 team that lost 112 games. As attendance dwindled and the team plunged to the bottom of the league standings, the organization made its intentions crystal clear. Before the 2022 season, the prices of season tickets doubled.

By the spring of 2023, it was apparent Fisher had set his sights elsewhere. Disputes between the team and city over off-site infrastructure and environmental impact complicated the Howard Terminal process, and the plan broke down, just like a previous proposal of a stadium near Lake Merritt did a few years earlier. 

“I’ll be very honest. I was obviously upset. This felt really unfair,” Oakland mayor Sheng Thao told The Athletic ’s Ken Rosenthal last year . “But there are no shovels in the ground (in Las Vegas). And until there is a shovel in the ground and it’s starting to be built, it’s still reality that the Oakland A’s can still be in Oakland.”

Even the deal intended to take the A’s to Vegas came with controversy. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred agreed to waive a relocation fee estimated at $300 million, reportedly because the plan would not have been financially feasible for Fisher otherwise. Leading up to 2024, the A’s were operating under a Jan. 15 deadline imposed by MLB to reach a binding agreement for a new stadium — necessary for the team to remain a recipient of the league’s revenue sharing.

And still the question loomed: If a new ballpark would not be ready until at least 2028, where exactly would the A’s play until then? The Coliseum lurked as one option, a phantom vessel still equipped to house the team. The city and the A’s had meetings as late as April 2 of this year regarding extending the team’s lease at the Coliseum, but negotiations between Fisher and the city long ago grew contentious. The fans who followed the saga and partook in some of the conversations grew weary. “It feels like the fight isn’t over,” said Jorge Leon, founder of the Oakland 68s fan group. “But at the same time, it’s like, ‘Leave already if you want to leave. We’re done with you. We want to move on.’”

In November, Leon was among a group of fans who traveled to MLB’s owners meetings in Texas. The group had a brief conversation with Fisher, in which the owner reportedly told them, “It’s been a lot worse for me than you.”

By April 5, the A’s announced their agreement to spend the next three seasons playing in Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park. The players who had been wondering what their futures held found out like the rest of the public.

“In baseball, you find out stuff on Twitter,” pitcher JP Sears said. “That’s just how it is.”

Concerns about the viability of a major-league team playing in a Triple-A park soon came flooding in from across the league. Fisher’s quotes from a press conference in Sacramento did not help the public perception. He named no Oakland players but touted the idea of watching “Athletics players or Aaron Judge ” hit home runs in “the most intimate ballpark in all of Major League Baseball.”

The A’s will make this “intimate” park their home for the next three seasons, and they will be known simply as the Athletics, with no city attached. Last Dive Bar, too, stirred up more controversy when it filed to trademark the name “Las Vegas Athletics.” This was the latest symbol of vitriol between fan group and team. The relationship between Last Dive Bar and the A’s first soured over a back-and-forth regarding potential trademark violations. Johansen says his group complied with everything the A’s and MLB asked.

In a statement provided to The Athletic , the A’s organization said in part: “MLB’s engagement with the Last Dive Bar regarding trademark infringement was consistent with other enforcement activities taken by MLB. Any suggestion that the A’s attempted to shut down or exclude the Last Dive Bar is unfounded.”

Now fans of the team are witnessing the last year of Major League Baseball in Oakland. And beyond these coming seasons in Sacramento? Nothing is quite across the finish line. The first set of renderings for the Las Vegas stadium were more dream than reality. The 9-acre stadium site was likely too small to accommodate the proposed retractable-roof stadium. The latest set of renderings describe a 33,000-seat ballpark with a fixed roof on the site of the former Tropicana Resort and Casino. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2025. Although Vegas has obvious appeal as the home for an MLB franchise, some of the underlying factors are puzzling. Oakland’s television market ranks 10th in the country. Las Vegas ranks 40th.

“Low attendance is just the product of the ownership and what the ownership has done,” Johansen said. “Nowhere else in business, if a CEO of a company says, ‘The reason my stuff isn’t selling is because of the consumer,’ it’s like, ‘No, it’s you.’”

Meanwhile, the political action group Schools over Stadiums is gathering signatures and going to court in effort to put the $380 million in public funding on a ballot referendum, which would allow Nevada taxpayers to vote on whether they want to allocate public funds to a new stadium.

Last Dive Bar recently donated $10,000 to Schools over Stadiums and said an independent donor planned to match that amount. In the event a call for public funding were to be rejected — like what recently happened with a stadium measure in Kansas City — the calculus for Fisher’s contributions to a new stadium would be altered significantly. One recent Emerson College poll estimated 52 percent of local voters opposed using public money to finance the stadium.

“As much as Vegas deserves and wants an MLB team, they’re not gonna sit here and just be used by a billionaire to get it,” Johansen said. “It will go to vote and it won’t pass, and then Vegas is off the table, at least for John Fisher. The question is then, where do they play? Where do they play? Oakland?”

Since coming to Oakland from Kansas City in 1968, the A’s cultivated a rich history. Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter, Dave Stewart and Vida Blue. There were the white cleats and the curly mustaches. Rickey Henderson, Mark McGwire and José Canseco. Moneyball and 20 straight wins, Barry Zito and Miguel Tejada.

That was then, and this is now. The final season of the A’s in Oakland will feature a roster projected to finish with the fewest wins in MLB, playing in a rotting stadium, in front of the few fans who still have the heart to come to games.

“Nothing lasts, you know?” Canha said. “It’s unfortunate, but we have the memories.”

For those who have lived all these years and all the different chapters, it is still difficult to imagine exactly what it will be like when the A’s leave Oakland. Eventually some of the unsolved questions will get their answers. The franchise will move on from this prolonged mess, and the people of Oakland will be left picking up the pieces.

People like Bryan Johansen, who says he is no longer a baseball fan. After the A’s leave Oakland, he says he will never be a fan of the game again.

“No, man,” he said. “No. No. Because what they’ve shown with this move is that they do not care about the fans. All that stuff you see on TV about how they try to promote the game, it’s built on a house of lies. If it were the case that MLB had the best interests of the fans and had the fans first in mind, they wouldn’t be doing everything they’re doing with the Oakland A’s.”

— Additional reporting by  The Athletic ’s Zack Meisel.

(Top photo of fans during the reverse boycott: Brandon Vallance / Getty Images)

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Cody Stavenhagen is a staff writer covering the Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball for The Athletic. Previously, he covered Michigan football at The Athletic and Oklahoma football and basketball for the Tulsa World, where he was named APSE Beat Writer of the Year for his circulation group in 2016. He is a native of Amarillo, Texas. Follow Cody on Twitter @ CodyStavenhagen

Roman Gabriel dies at 83. The first Filipino American quarterback in the NFL was MVP in 1969

Roman Gabriel had big size and a big arm when he was the No. 2 draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1962. Even while playing in an era of grinding it out on the ground, he still holds the  Rams’ team record with 154 touchdown passes .

Gabriel, the first Filipino American quarterback in the NFL and the league MVP in 1969, died Saturday. He was 83.

His son Roman Gabriel III  announced his father’s death  on social media, saying he died peacefully at home of natural causes.

In 2021, the elder Gabriel told the Los Angeles Times, “I am retired with heart problems and arthritis but happy.” He said he split time between Wilmington, North Carolina, and Little River, South Carolina.

“We mourn the loss of Rams legend and football pioneer, Roman Gabriel,”  the Rams said on X , formerly known as Twitter.

Gabriel, who played at North Carolina State and was a two-time player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

He was 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, big for a quarterback in that era. Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi once described him as “a big telephone pole,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

Gabriel played 11 years for the Rams and five years with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was traded after the Rams acquired John Hadl.

“Gabe was an amazing player and an even better mentor. Words can’t explain my thanks for what a great teammate he was,” retired quarterback  Ron Jaworski , whom Gabriel backed up on the Eagles in his final season, posted on X. “A special player and a better man!”Gabriel was such a hot prospect that the Rams made him the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, and the Oakland Raiders of the rival AFL selected him No. 1. Gabriel wound up signing with the Rams, though it took until George Allen was hired as coach in 1966 for Gabriel to start leaving a mark.

From 1967 to 1970, Gabriel led the Rams to a 41-14-4 record and two division titles, though never a playoff game. He was voted MVP in 1969 after throwing for 2,549 yards with 24 touchdown passes and five rushing scores.

Allen left for Washington after the 1970, and Gabriel was shipped to the Eagles in 1973. He was the NFL comeback player of the year, leading the league with 23 touchdown passes and 3,219 yards, as he tried to help revive the Eagles’ offense.

After retiring, Gabriel worked briefly for CBS, calling NFL games.

He went into coaching, with stints at Cal Poly Pomona, the Boston Breakers of the USFL and Raleigh-Durham in the World League of American Football.

Gabriel also dabbled in acting. His movie credits included “Skidoo” starring Jackie Gleason in 1968, and 1969’s “The Undefeated” starring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. He appeared in such TV shows as “Gilligan’s Island,” “Perry Mason,” “Ironside” and “Wonder Woman.” He also joined Bob Hope on a USO tour of Vietnam.

The Associated Press