Athletics Set to Start Playing in Las Vegas for 2028 MLB Season, Rob Manfred Says

If everything goes according to plan, the Athletics will be playing in Sacramento for just three seasons after leaving Oakland.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted Tuesday that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the plan is for the Athletics to play in Las Vegas starting with the 2028 campaign. Manfred also called the temporary stadium in Sacramento "charming."

The 2028 season has long been seen as the targeted date for the move to Las Vegas and was even included in the team's statement regarding relocation that it released in December 2023.

Mark Anderson of the Associated Press noted the team cleared one of "the last major hurdles for the Athletics to construct a $1.75 billion stadium" in Las Vegas at the former site of the Tropicana Hotel when the Las Vegas Stadium Authority approved lease, non-relocation and development documents in December.

The agreements cover 30 years and set the stage for construction to begin in time to open the stadium by the 2028 season.

Anderson reported that Nevada and Clark County are providing $380 million in public funds for the 30,000-seat domed stadium. What's more, team board member Sandy Dean said the organization invested $40 million and that team owner John Fisher increased his previous pledge of family money to $1.1 billion.

Public financing will not start until the Athletics have spent at least $100 million.

As for the temporary time in Sacramento, the American League West team will play at Sutter Health Park. The traditional home of the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) features a capacity of 14,000.

The Athletics start their 2025 season on the road against the Seattle Mariners on March 27 ahead of their home opener on March 31 against the Chicago Cubs.