Tag: Schools over Stadiums

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum: Schools over Stadiums looking to a put measure on Nevada ballot to stop public funding for A’s ballpark in 2026

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Alexander Marks spokesman for Schools over Stadiums as he appeared at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority hearing on Feb 27, 2025  to argue that $400 million of public money from SB238 to funding Hollywood Studios should go to education and schools. Marks says Schools over Stadiums intends to revisit putting a 2026 initiative on the Nevada ballot to block the public funding for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark. Marks said the A’s have not even broke ground yet for the project. (file photo from google)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, according to Schools over Stadiums spokesperson Alexander Marks the tax payers of Nevada are already paying over $36 million and there isn’t even shovel in the ground to start the Las Vegas A’s stadium build over at the Tropicana on the Las Vegas strip.

#2 The construction funding share from the A’s was due last December and Marks is questioning how this plan will fall into place with the deadlines already passed?

#3 The Las Vegas Stadium Authority and the A’s were expected to get shovels in the ground by now and criticism of the money already spent by the state tax payers to get the project going has ran up to $36 million Marks says for next year.

#4 Marks was talking about the transferrable $36 million tax credit that’s being built into the state budget for 2026 which State of Nevada lawmakers are writing up this month. The $36 million is just the first installment of the $380 million that will go towards building the A’s Las Vegas park from public tax dollars that Marks said should be going towards education and schools in Nevada.

#5 The $380 million is tax money that will allocated towards the ballpark but the total price tag to pay for the entire project is $1.75 billion that amount is what the A’s need to come up with to pay for the park. Marks says the A’s are getting F’s because the schools need that budget and that public money should not be going towards financing the ballpark.

#6 After trying to get a ballot initiative back in November in front of the Nevada voters to stop funding the project a judge stopped the question from going forward in last year’s state election which was during the general election. Marks says Schools over Stadiums are considering making another try at it again for 2026 to get the question on the ballot to stop public monies towards the A’s ballpark.

Daniel Dullum does the A’s Relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast Daniel Dullum: A’s say shovels will go in the ground between April-June 2025 for Vegas ballpark construction

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Site of the future Las Vegas A’s ballpark at the Tropicana Casino and Hotel resort on Wed Mar 5, 2025 as excavation is schedule to start between April-June and the park is expected to be ready by opening day 2028 according to the Athletics (photo by the Las Vegas Review Journal)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 The Sacramento A’s say their taking step closer to building their Las Vegas strip ballpark. The cost of the park is set at $1.75 billion. The A’s this week filed for a commercial grading permit in Clark County.

#2 The permit would allow the A’s to begin a mass excavation project on the Las Vegas strip where the Tropicana Casino and Hotel once stood. The permit was filed last Monday and the A’s and Bally’s Corp are merged for a ballpark/casino project on nine acres of the 35 acre location which is considered the busiest intersection in the world at Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana.

#3 The ballpark capacity is expected to be 33,000 and construction is expected to get started between April and June. To make their payment schedule the A’s need to sell out the ballpark for every event for the next 30 years can they do it?

#4 The target for opening day at the Vegas ballpark is 2028. The A’s are applying for their entitlement process with Clark County. If they obtain the entitlements they can start construction. The entitlement would allow the A’s to be compliant with Clark County’s regulatory policies and regulations.

#5 Meanwhile Schools over Stadiums an education over stadiums organization with the backing of public education and it’s teachers and spokesperson Alexander Marks had a statement from the National Education Association of Southern Nevada regarding their push to stop public money for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark and Hollywood using public funds to begin a Hollywood Studio project in Las Vegas saying on Thursday night, “Not a single shovel in the ground yet and this project has already cost Nevada $36 million next year. That’s millions of dollars that could save hundreds of educator position and keep CCSD reading centers open-centers that are now slated to close due to budget shortfalls” Schools over Stadiums said in a X communication Thursday, “John Fisher gets $380 million in public money. They’re now considering $1.6B in public funds for a #HollywoodHandout”

Daniel Dullum does the Athletics Relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Schools over Stadiums says public money going to Hollywood studios; Schools over Studios protested funding at Nevada Assembly Committee Thursday

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Alexander Marks and Schools over Stadiums/Schools over Studios appeared at the Assembly Committee on Revenue on Thu Feb 27, 2025 to argue that $400 million of public money from SB238 to fund Hollywood Studios to do production in Nevada should be going to pubic schools. Marks had previously argued that SB1 funding for an Athletics Las Vegas stadium should go to public schools and not a ballpark. (file photo from google)

On the Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 In December Athletics team president Sandy Dean said that the A’s are in the early stages of getting construction organized with Clark County (Las Vegas) back on Dec 5th. As of yet there is no report that the A’s have come up with the $1.75 billion for their share of the construction costs for the Vegas ballpark.

#2 The A’s are looking for loan help from Goldman Sachs and US Bank and Dean was pretty definite that those loans will be coming to the rescue. Some in the media have now questioned it’s been past the deadline Dec 2024 set by the Nevada Assembly for SB1 funding at $380 million that would be triggered when the A’s come up with their share of the construction costs. Could there be doubts that maybe this money may not happen at all?

#3 Schools over Stadiums spokesman Alexander Marks who previously protested and litigated against the A’s Vegas ballpark. Schools over Stadiums are now trying to stop the Nevada Legislature from spending more public money with a new senate bill that would fund Hollywood Studios with AB238. The bill would provide $80 million in tax credits from 2028 to 2043 and require at least $400 million to be invested into Nevada. The cost to fund the Hollywood studios where all filming would be in Nevada would be $20 million more than what the state will be paying for the Las Vegas A’s ballpark.

#4 Schools over Stadiums also named Schools over Studio for fighting the Hollywood funding has two fronts to fight. Schools over Stadiums had a meeting Thursday at the Assembly Committee on Revenue to argue their case that public money that should go to schools and not go to pay for Hollywood Studios productions to the tune of $400 million plus getting 15 years of tax credits.

#5 Schools over Stadiums knows they’re efforts to stop the A’s Vegas ballpark looks almost nil if the A’s come up with their share of the construction costs for the park. Schools over Stadiums still needs 102,586 signatures from four districts in Southern Nevada to sign a petition that would put an initiative on the ballot to stop public funding for SB1 the A’s ballpark. That signature drive has not launched as of yet.

Daniel Dullum does the Athletics Relocation podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Fisher Family finally regroups on construction cost realizing big returns on Vegas investment

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Proposed Las Vegas A’s ballpark rendering is scheduled to be completed by opening day 2028 at Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd on the Vegas Strip. (renderings from the Sacramento A’s)

On the Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 This week it was reported the A’s will pay $1 billion into their Las Vegas ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip at the old Tropicana site. Golden Sachs and US Bank also are contributing another $300 million in loan money towards the project. The $1 billion from the A’s is funded from owner John Fisher and his family.

#2 Fisher had tried to find investors to buy minority portions of A’s ownerships and tried to find local investors in Las Vegas as well going on a good portion of the year since December 2024 when the MLB owners approved the move to Vegas to find minority investors. Not having success in finding partners Fisher has teamed up with his family to pay the $1 billion.

#3 With the rising appreciation of Major League teams who have their own park and amenities Fisher convinced his family that this would be an investment that will no doubt have big returns. The A’s could appreciate their current worth from $1.5 billion to $3 billion once they are at their new Las Vegas digs.

#4 A meeting scheduled with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority headed by Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce CEO Steven Hill for December 5th to put the final vote for final approval and towards breaking ground at the Tropicana for the ballpark. Construction is expected to begin in March and the ballpark should be finished with a opening day target date of 2028.

#5 Long shot: Schools over Stadiums has hardly given up hope to stop the public funding of SB1. Alexander Marks Schools over Stadium spokesman who has attended many of the ballpark meetings at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority has spoke many times against the funding of public money being used when it should be used for public education. Marks hopes to get enough signatures to put an initiative on the Nevada ballot to stop the public funding of the A’s Las Vegas ballpark. If successful the A’s would be forced to find private money instead of Nevada State money or SB1 funding for the $350 million the A’s said they would use out of the $380 million.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Sacramento A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Fisher gets help from his family; Everyone pitches in to make up the $1.5 Billion

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John Fisher (far right) and his family plan to come up with $1.5 billion for their share of the construction costs to pay for the Las Vegas A’s ball park at the old Tropicana location (photo from Rickey Blog and Thompson Family go fund me)

On the Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Sacramento A’s and owner John Fisher on Thursday have detailed how their going to finance the new Las Vegas ballpark as the deadline to come up with the A’s share of the construction costs come due on Dec 5th. Fisher with the help of his family plan to pay the $1.5 billion.

#2 A’s executive Sandy Dean said that construction details, a financing plan are going to be in place. There will be a Dec 5th meeting with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority and final approvals for the $1.5 billion, 30,000 seat that will have a 33,000 capacity should be approved.

#3 Construction for the project is scheduled to begin Spring 2025 and the targeted opening date is 2028. The State of Nevada will be funding some $380 million towards the new park that will be located at the old Tropicana site located at Las Vegas Blvd and is targeted to open in 2028.

#4 Alexander Marks Schools over Stadiums spokesman and Schools over Stadiums who are education group fighting to stop public state funding that is going to pay for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark has not given up the fight and are hoping to get an initiative on the 2026 ballot that would stop the state funding for the A’s Vegas ballpark. Schools over Stadiums said last week that “we will continue our fight, including taking it to the streets with a referendum petition to protect Nevada’s tax dollars.”

#5 With the Fisher family getting very close to the stadium construction costs they are also getting loans to cover the costs from Goldman Sachs and US Bank, if there were any doubts before about financing the stadium Dean said this is the evidence you need, this “concludes the Fisher family has more than sufficient resources to fund the equity investment that’s required to build the stadium.”

Daniel Dullum does the Sacramento A’s Relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Schools over Stadiums makes its point as Nevada prepares to spend public money for Warner Bros studios

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Las Vegas Stadium Authority CEO Steve Hill (left) and Oakland A’s president David Kaval (right) are seen discussing the Las Vegas Ballpark in 2023 (LV Sports Biz file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 According to Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo said that parents should see his open letter about free school meals. Lombardo is trying to show that the state is doing something with public money to help schools at the same time using public money for the A’s ballpark.

#2 On Tuesday Schools over Stadiums representative Alexander Marks said that while Lombardo claims he’s transparent then why does he refuse speak to the press about the free school meals budget when they’ve asked for public comment proves the point that the State of Nevada and the Lombardo are not being transparent.

#3 Also on Tuesday it was announced that a Nevada judge will rule if it’s legal to earmark $380 million in public funds to help fund the Las Vegas A’s ballpark on Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana.

#4 Marks writes on X Tuesday that if the State of Nevada were to a write movie about having a fully funded school system with 20 students per class it would be a like a rated F movie that requires billionaires to build their own studios without public money after news broke that Warner Bros wants to build studios in Vegas if the Nevada State Legislature approves a film tax for the studios. More public money being used for studios and stadiums instead of public schools.

#5 Marks also mentioned Las Vegas Stadium Authority CEO Steven Hill in last week’s meeting regarding the financial progress of the A’s paying for their share of the ballpark that “We’re rounding third and headed for home. There are not many open issues left.” Marks countered by writing on Schools over Stadiums X page, “Except for financing, final renderings, actual stadium location, the constitutional lawsuit, the 2026 referendum…yup very few open issues left”

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada looking to spend more public money on Warner Bros Studios instead of public Schools; Like A’s ballpark a new tax will be created for studios

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Alexander Marks from Schools over Stadiums (above photo) and Chris Daly, political director of the Nevada State Education Association, attended the brief stadium board meeting to argue that the hiring of the LVCVA by the stadium board was a clear conflict that has been par for the course in a government process that saw the A’s receive the government money in lightning speed. Photo credit: Hugh Byrne/LVSportsBiz.com

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 According to Republican Governor Joe Lambardo saying Democrats” have been lying to Nevada families in need about free school meals for weeks.” Lombardo said that parents should see his open letter about free school meals. Lombardo is trying to show that the state is doing something with public money to help schools at the same time using public money for the A’s ballpark.

#2 On Tuesday Schools over Stadiums representative Alexander Marks said that while Lombardo claims he’s transparent then why does he refuse speak to the press about the free school meals budget when they’ve asked for public comment proves the point that the State of Nevada and the Lombardo are not being transparent.

#3 Also on Tuesday it was announced that a Nevada judge will rule if it’s legal to earmark $380 million in public funds to help fund the Las Vegas A’s ballpark on Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana.

#4 Marks writes on X Tuesday that if the State of Nevada were to a write movie about having a fully funded school system with 20 students per class it would be a like a rated F movie that requires billionaires to build their own studios without public money after news broke that Warner Bros wants to build studios in Vegas if the Nevada State Legislature approves a film tax for the studios. More public money being used for studios and stadiums instead of public schools.

#5 Marks also mentioned Las Vegas Stadium Authority CEO Steven Hill in last week’s meeting regarding the financial progress of the A’s paying for their share of the ballpark that “We’re rounding third and headed for home. There are not many open issues left.” Marks countered by writing on Schools over Stadiums X page, “Except for financing, final renderings, actual stadium location, the constitutional lawsuit, the 2026 referendum…yup very few open issues left”

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast: Nevada Judge says A’s can’t stop Schools over Stadiums petition drive

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Nevada District Court Judge Kristin Luis ruled last week that the Oakland A’s cannot get involved in the Schools over Stadiums vs. State of Nevada lawsuit over stopping the use of public money for an Oakland A’s Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip. (photo from Judge Kristin Luis facebook page)

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Nevada District Judge Kristin Luis ruled that the Oakland A’s request to get involved in the lawsuit between the Nevada State Teachers Union and State of Nevada was denied by Luis. The A’s were told last week that the State of Nevada can work out the case on it’s own.

#2 Judge Luis said that the state can work out their issues and that the A’s who are a private for profit organization saying the A’s “represents its own presumably profit-driven interests, will unduly expand the controversy.”

#3 The A’s argued that timelines to get the stadium under construction is at hand. The Tropicana where the A’s want to build on the strip. The plan in October is to start construction on the Tropicana property and in April 2025 to implode the remaining towers. If Schools Over Stadiums prevails with getting the petition drive to put an initiative on the November 2025 ballot to stop the $380 million public funding for the ballpark.

#4 A’s owner John Fisher said he wants have the stadium ready by April 2028. The cost of the stadium is #1.5 billion and the State of Nevada is putting up $380 million towards the park. Fisher is suppose to come up with $500 million of his share of the construction costs no word if that’s happened yet. He hired a Los Angeles investment firm to look for investors no news on that either.

#5 The Las Vegas Stadium Authority have scheduled a meeting for July 18th. Under the State of Nevada SB1 the authorization for the public funding could expire by the end of the year if the A’s have not presented a development and lease agreement in 18 months. That’s eight months ago since MLB approved the A’s move to Las Vegas by a full owners vote in December with 10 months remaining.

Join Daniel for the A’s Relocation podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Schools over Stadiums turned down in Nevada Supreme Court; A’s $1.5 billion Vegas ballpark funding murkier

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The locked, closed and unused Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas which was closed on Apr 2, 2024 and is the proposed site for the Oakland A’s new ballpark. photo by Sports Radio Service on Apr 8, 2024.

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 Amaury, the Nevada Supreme Court rejected Schools over Stadium ballot referendum that would have approved petition language that would reject SB1 the use of public funds at the tune of $380 million for the November 2024 election.

#2 The A’s who hired a Los Angeles investor to help them find minority partners to invest shares into the team and help pay for the construction costs for the Las Vegas ballpark has so far not panned out any new news in finding partners.

#3 Also Bally’s where the Tropicana Hotel waits to be imploded in April 2025 needs to determine where they want to put the nine acre park on the 36 acre location at Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd. At first it was thought the park would be location on the back corner from the strip but now Bally’s or the A’s are not really sure where their going to put the ballpark.

#4 Schools over Stadiums who were rejected for the second time to get language to reject the public funding of the ballpark will attempt to appeal again. Schools over Stadiums released a statement after the Supreme Court denied the application for petition language, “Schools Over Stadiums remains committed to stopping Nevada tax dollars from paying for a stadium for a California billionaire, and we are disappointed Nevada voters will not have their say in 2024. With this guidance, Schools Over Stadiums plans to refile our petition next year and win in 2026. Nevada voters deserve the opportunity to decide where their money goes.”

#5 Meanwhile the A’s who will be playing their 2025-27 seasons at Sutter Health Ballpark in Sacramento are working with Sacramento Rivercats owner Vivek Ranadive. Ranadive who is anticipating that the Las Vegas deal will fall through and will get on board with John Fisher and the A’s to help build a ballpark and keep the A’s in Sacramento permanently that has yet to be determined.

#6 African American Sports and Entertainment wanted to join forces with the A’s at one time to keep the A’s in Oakland and help buy a share in the team and buy the Oakland Coliseum location and turn it into a sports and entertainment complex. John Fisher has been very silent on all these moving parts.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#1

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Oakland will never be the City of Champions again; More fans staying away from 2024 home games vs.2023

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Three time World Champions the 1974 Oakland A’s top row left to right Rollie Fingers, Joe Rudi, Vida Blue, second row left to right Reggie Jackson, owner Charlie Finley, Gene Tenace, and third row bottom Sal Bando, Catfish Hunter and Campy Campaneris (Sports Illustrated 1974 photo)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 For almost a year now the Oakland A’s who announced they had a binding agreement at the Rio in Las Vegas it was the beginning of would be the end of Oakland sports. The NBA’s Golden State Warriors were gone and the Oakland Raiders left for Vegas from the looks of it Daniel the Oakland Coliseum and the City of Oakland will never see a top line professional sports team again as MLB had made it clear they want out of Oakland.

#2 In the 1970s when the A’s won three straight world Championships in a row no one would have dreamed that the A’s would even consider moving out of Oakland and that possibility came in 1977 and 1978 when the A’s within a whisker of moving the team to Denver and being owned by Marvin Davis.

#3 in 1977 the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority filed a law suit against former A’s owner Charlie Finley saying that Finley had ten more years left on the Coliseum lease. January 23, 1978 Davis ended negotiating with the City of Oakland and the A’s would remain in Oakland.

#4 The appeal for new language on the Nevada petition to stop public funding or SB1 for an Las Vegas A’s ballpark on the Las Vegas strip still no word from the Nevada Court of Appeals. If approved Schools over Stadiums would have until the end of June a month and half away to gather 102,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot for the Nov 2024 election.

#5 Attendance for A’s home games in Oakland and to no ones surprised down from last year through the first 21 games of the season as reported during the Rangers-A’s doubleheader last Wednesday. The A’s top attendance was on opening day at 13,500 and their lowest crowd was less than 2900 on Monday night. Comparing it to last season’s opener which had 25,000 fans.

Join Daniel Dullum each Friday for the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com