The Oakland Athletics’ potential move to Las Vegas has hit a major roadblock, as the Nevada State Education Association (NESA) is gearing up to file an injunction to block the $380 million in public funds allocated for the A’s new stadium. The NESA argues that it is unconstitutional for taxpayer money to be used for a sports stadium when Nevada schools are severely underfunded and facing significant challenges.
The $380 million in public funds was approved by the Nevada Government last June to build a stadium for the Athletics on the grounds of the Tropicana Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The team was set to start playing there in 2028. However, Stadiums Over Schools, a political action group led by NESA, is leading the charge to halt the stadium project, citing the dire state of Nevada’s education system.
According to NESA president Dawn Etcheverry, the focus should be on Nevada’s true priorities – the children, parents, and educators within the state. Instead of funneling money to a California billionaire for a stadium, she argues that resources should be directed towards improving Nevada’s education system, which currently ranks 48th in the nation in per-pupil funding and has the largest class sizes.
NESA’s lawsuit will require over 100,000 signatures by June 26 to force a referendum and potentially block the A’s move to Las Vegas. If the referendum goes public, there is a chance that the relocation could be halted, as there is significant opposition from locals who do not support the move.
At a recent fan-produced Oakland A’s Fans Fest, NESA deputy executive director of government relations Chris Daly expressed confidence in their efforts to block the stadium deal. He emphasized that it will be a combined effort of Oakland A’s fans, Schools Over Stadiums, Strong Public Schools, and John Fisher’s alleged “ineptitude” that will ultimately put an end to the Tropicana stadium deal.
John Fisher, the owner of the Athletics, has been trying to orchestrate the move to Las Vegas despite facing backlash from fans, Nevadans, and government officials. With baseball’s opening day fast approaching, the A’s are still without a stadium to play in, as their contract with the Oakland Coliseum expired at the end of last year.
As the legal battle over the $380 million public funding continues, it remains to be seen whether the Oakland Athletics will be able to make the move to Las Vegas or if they will be forced to consider other options. The clash between sports interests and educational priorities highlights the complex issues surrounding public funding for professional sports teams and the need to balance investments in sports infrastructure with essential public services like education.
