The Tropicana Hotel and Casino is on the chopping block to get demoed late 2024 and the construction for the A’s ballpark is to begin April 2025 according to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority. (photo by the Nevada Independent on May 9, 2023)

Michael Duca filled for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Michael, the Nevada Independent calls A’s coming to Vegas mismanagement, political cronyism, and a public relations disaster as the MLB owners prepare to vote on the A’s relocation this week.

#2 The article goes onto to say last week’s meeting with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority so far shows that this is throwing tax dollars away at the Tropicana ballpark and that’s it’s a worthy investment.

#3 So far the A’s have not produced how they will fund the construction costs and they have not presented a rendering of how the park will look like and the MLB owners A’s relocation vote is Tuesday night in Arlington.

#4 One other feature that’s hardly been discussed that the Independent shined the light on was the lease agreement between the team and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority this a deal similar to what Allegiant Stadium has that the A’s would not have to pay rent for 30 years and revenues go to the A’s. That would include fringe benefits of retail, hotels, and office space that the A’s will benefit from when the Tropicana is developed.

#5 One other important point there is no oversight committee to see how the public funds are allocated and managed over the project. The Independent points out that the oversight is being managed by the very same people who lobby lawmakers for public money who helped the A’s move from one binding agreement (the Rio) to the Tropicana. This is public money being thrown away to a private business that the Stadium Authority claims would be a benefit for public interests but is really helping private interests such as the Tropicana Ballpark development.

Michael Duca filled in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez who does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com