Ex-federal prosecutor’s new role: making sure A’s stick to commitments to Vegas
The A’s $2 billion stadium is under construction, and the team will play six regular-season home games in Las Vegas next year. The newly named chairman of the team’s community benefits program board says he will hold the team to its financial commitments.
Jason Frierson spent 10 years in the Nevada Assembly, including three sessions as speaker — the lower house’s top leadership role.
But he wasn’t in office when debates during two special legislative sessions took place over the public financing approval for two Las Vegas professional sports venues — $750 million for Allegiant Stadium in 2016 and $350 million for the Athletics’ ballpark in 2023.
For those reasons, the ex-lawmaker and former U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada is happy he’s playing his part as the newly appointed chairman of the Athletics’ community benefits program board on behalf of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority. Once the A’s move to Las Vegas and begin play in 2028, the community benefits program board will oversee at least $2 million in cash and in-kind contributions from the team annually.
“The former legislator in me has always believed that we need to invest in what we want to be as a community,” Frierson, 55, told The Nevada Independent in an interview Monday. “We also expect the partner to give back and be a meaningful staple in the community. To be able to be a part of that and the impact that it has on people who live here is why I was interested, and why I was glad to get the nod.”
Frierson, who didn’t run for re-election after the 2021 session, works for Cornerstone Group, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm. He couldn’t attend last week’s hearing, but his nomination was easily approved without debate.
He said his goal is to ensure the A’s keep up the team’s end of the bargain.
The A’s spent 57 years in Oakland after moving from Kansas City, and the team never had a community benefits partnership agreement in the Bay Area. The Oakland Coliseum was operated by government entities and was shared off and on with the Raiders.
The parameters of the committee were approved last year by the Stadium Authority with the financial commitment from the A’s set out in the stadium’s 2023 public financing legislation.
The team is required to contribute $500,000 annually in cash and in-kind contributions until a year after the team’s first season in the Las Vegas ballpark. At that point, the team’s financial commitment will be whatever is larger — $2 million, or 1 percent of the ballclub’s ticket sales revenue for the calendar year.
The community benefits package approved by the Legislature included workforce diversity goals, which require 51 percent of all construction workers for the stadium to be made up of women, minorities, veterans and disabled workers. The A’s will be required to contract 15 percent of all work on the stadium to small locally owned businesses.
Two additional sections of the agreement included a minimum financial commitment and the nonfinancial benefits related to the Neon Museum, such as displaying items on the stadium site, and working with the Las Vegas Aviators, the A’s Triple-A affiliate, to coordinate certain community benefits programs.
Frierson is replacing former Nevada State University President DeRionne Pollard, who was appointed chair in March. Pollard resigned from the university last month to oversee a national community colleges organization in Washington, D.C.
“I did not have a chance to sit down with Dr. Pollard before her departure,” Frierson said. “This is the beginning of a process of learning the details about what's expected of the committee and specifically of the chair. It’s exciting to be on that part of the equation, helping make sure that the organization sticks to their commitment and that the community knows what the team is doing.”
Since the team announced the move to Las Vegas, the A’s have seemingly made the team’s mascot, Stomper, a Southern Nevada resident, having him show up at public school events and other community efforts.
At last week’s Stadium Authority meeting, team President Marc Badain shared a list of some of the team’s efforts in the community, including financial contributions to every Nevada youth baseball and softball team for the past three years and the sponsorship of more than 40 events in 2025, including local festivals, education initiatives and business and chamber events. More than 140 organizations have been supported through financial and in-kind contributions.
The A’s agreement mentions the amounts the team must contribute to the community, unlike the Raiders’ agreement, which encourages but doesn’t require charity. Sen. Edgar Flores (D-Las Vegas) said in a hearing that after the 2016 stadium deal to attract the Raiders, “the community benefits program that was promised was not delivered.”
Frierson said the A’s agreement is stronger.
“I think that it reflects a greater commitment,” he said. “The Raiders have been very active in the community. But I think this agreement reflects a commitment by the [A’s] to do more when it comes to hiring and a presence in the community.”
Frierson spent two and a half years as Nevada’s U.S. attorney, having been nominated for the role by former President Joe Biden in 2021 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in April 2022 for a four-year term. Frierson resigned his position in January, a typical move when presidents of the opposite party take power.
“Jason's a great choice. He is a well-respected figure and leader in this community,” Stadium Authority Board Chairman Steve Hill said at the board meeting last week.
Boomer’s Sportsbook approved for Casino Fandango in Carson City
A month after opening its first three locations, Boomer’s Sportsbook has its first Northern Nevada betting spot. State gaming regulators on Aug. 21 expedited the licensing for Boomer’s at Casino Fandango in Carson City. The sportsbook will open Monday in time for the start of the NFL season.
Boomer’s CEO Joe Asher told the Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission the casino would have been without a sportsbook during September because its previous operator, William Hill, terminated its management contract a month early.
Olympia Gaming, which operates the casino, intended to switch to Boomer’s for the sportsbook and gave William Hill two months' notice. The control board held a special hearing for Boomer’s at Asher’s request ahead of the planned commission hearing.
Asher told gaming regulators the company has gaming applications pending for three additional locations.
Boomer’s operates sportsbooks at Ellis Island near the Strip, Casino Valle Verde in Henderson and The Commercial Casino in Elko.
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