Following a ceremonial groundbreaking event Monday for the Athletics’ $1.75 billion baseball stadium on the Strip, team owner John Fisher said he hopes a plan from Bally’s Corp. for a casino-resort development surrounding the 33,000-fan capacity ballpark will soon become clearer.

Bally’s released plans last October after the Tropicana resort that formerly occupied the site was imploded, showing a multiphased resort surrounding the ballpark. But the casino operator is involved with projects in the U.S. and abroad and has not provided new details about Las Vegas.

The ideal scenario, Fisher said, would be having the resort’s initial phase under construction at the same time the A’s stadium begins to take shape on the southeast corner of the Strip and Tropicana Avenue ahead of its planned April 2028 opening.

“I think those conversations need to sort of happen with them. What they've shown us is exciting,” said Fisher, following the event during which the team welcomed more than 500 guests to an air-conditioned, baseball-themed temporary space at the heart of what will become the ballpark.

A sign outside a window behind the speaker’s podium was designated as the future location of home plate. The A’s are using 9 acres of the 35-acre site that formerly housed the Tropicana Las Vegas for the stadium.

Bally’s President George Papanier, who attended Monday’s event, said Bally’s would update the plans but declined additional comment.

MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle said Monday that he’s discussed the plans for the site with leaders of Bally’s. The casino giant controls more than 13,000 hotel rooms near the ballpark site, including major resorts on three of the four corners of the Strip and Tropicana Avenue.

“We’ve talked about the corner and bridges and how to connect all this activity,” said Hornbuckle, who attended the A’s event. “They need to zero in on a real plan and make it clear to all of us what’s going to be built.”

Hornbuckle said he expects MGM’s properties will serve as the parking lot for A’s stadium events, similar to how the company’s resorts serve as the parking facilities for Allegiant Stadium. He said MGM Grand, which is across Tropicana from the stadium site, has more than 8,000 parking spaces. 

“If you think about the view up toward the Strip, it's gonna be spectacular for our Las Vegas brands,” Hornbuckle said. 

The A’s used the ceremonial groundbreaking to introduce the project to Las Vegas, but also to thank Gov. Joe Lombardo and state lawmakers for approving $350 million in public financing in 2023 for the stadium. In addition to state officials, the event was attended by city and county government officials, tourism executives and local labor and resort industry leaders. 

A large contingent of local Little League and softball players participated in the event.

The stadium is expected to include a variety of options for fans to attend the A’s games, including traditional grandstands, standing room areas, restaurants and luxury suites. Speakers touted the variety of events the stadium expected to attract beyond the A’s 81 regular-season home games.

The A’s move follows the 2020 relocation of the NFL’s Raiders, the 2018 relocation of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces and the 2017 expansion of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, ending a long drought of major league sports in the state.

“Nobody can deny the incredible impact of professional sports and sports facilities coming to Nevada,” said Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas). “It also adds a home team for locals, a favorite destination for visitors to see their team play, and facilities that can also serve as venues for other meetings, events and concerts.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred attended the event and said, following his prepared remarks, he had long supported bringing a team to Las Vegas, either through expansion or relocation.

“We thought the idea of being on the Strip was perfect,” Manfred said. “I think Vegas presented a real opportunity for Major League Baseball. It's different than almost any other market. The tourism here presents an opportunity.” 

The bulk of the stadium costs, $1.1 billion, is being funded by Fisher. U.S. Bank and Goldman Sachs are loaning the team $300 million while the public financing piece covers $350 million. 

Fisher said he is still seeking investors. The ceremonial groundbreaking helps show that the project “is real.” Fisher confirmed reports that he wants to sell his ownership in his Major League Soccer franchise, the San Jose Earthquakes, but said those proceeds won’t go toward the stadium’s construction.

He affirmed his commitment to Las Vegas, noting he has purchased a home in the community.

“My interest isn’t in the Bay Area now. I’m spending more time here,” Fisher said.

He expects drilling for the stadium’s foundation will begin in the next few weeks, adding that the stadium’s structure taking shape will be a monumental event. 

“It will mean a lot for people to see it coming up,” he said.

A’s President Marc Badain said after the event that the A’s have contingency plans in place should costs for the stadium increase, given rising costs for steel and other building products. 

Badain, the former president of the Las Vegas Raiders, oversaw the construction of the $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium with the same development team, which includes Mortenson | McCarthy Construction.

“I'm not concerned about costs. We've had a number of meetings over the last three months with the project team,” Badain said. “You always run into unknowns and you build emergency plans.”

Updated at 4:45 p.m. on 6/23/2025 to reflect the relocation of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces.