Athletics podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s claim they have their share of construction costs for Vegas ballpark

Sandy Dean Athletics president has said all along the A’s would come up with the funding for their share of the Las Vegas ballpark on the Las Vegas strip which is expected to open baseball season 2028 (LV Sports Biz file photo)

On the Athletics podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 The Athletics are saying they have the $350 million coming from SB1 and the State of Nevada and $300 million from Goldman Sachs and US Bank.

#2 One of the requirements are that the A’s have to spend $100 million of their own money before they can touch any of the public funds from Nevada.

#3 The A’s have spent $40 million of the designer process so far the site selection and the A’s stadium will occupy nine acres of the 35 acre Tropicana casino and resort which should be ready by opening day 2028.

#4 The A’s will be sharing the space with Bally’s Mega Corp where the rolling of the dice and slot machines will be a baseballs throw away.

#5 The A’s have submitted their land use permit has been filed. The A’s have officially submitted their land use permit to Clark County. Which is important in getting construction underway.

A’s Relocation podcasts can be heard each Sunday with Daniel Dullum at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: All of sudden A’s in the chips with Severino signing and covering Vegas ballpark costs

Luis Severino A’s pitcher (right) who signed for a two year $67 million deal shakes hands with A’s general manager David Forst (left) at the Severino press conference at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Fri Dec 10, 2024 (Athletics X photo)

On the Athletics relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 A’s owner John Fisher who has owned the A’s for 20 years and had signed pitcher Luis Severino to the largest contract since they had third baseman Eric Chavez. Severino signed for two years at $67 million. In 2004 Chavez had a six year deal with the A’s worth $66 million.

#2 The criticism about the Severino deal is that the A’s and the city of Oakland back in 2023 couldn’t reach a deal for Howard Terminal which fell some $36 million short for it to close the deal but the A’s were able to find the money to sign Severino for $67 million this month.

#3 It was pointed out that Fisher said of the reasons to move the A’s was that the attendance was horrible, nobody shows up, it’s the ballpark, and now they have to play in a minor league park in Sacramento but they couldn’t afford to pay the City of Oakland $90 million to play their remaining three interim years at the Oakland Coliseum before moving to Vegas.

#4 Also the A’s who originally were to pay $1.5 billion for the construction costs for the Vegas ballpark those costs have gone up to $1.75 billion and that cost could go up even further to $2 billion. It’s amazing what can happen if the A’s need to get something but couldn’t find the money for Howard Terminal?

#5 What about Commissioner Rob Manfred was he duped thinking the A’s had no money for Howard Terminal therefore they could get some love from the State of Nevada in public funding to build the park but who’d a thunk the A’s found funding with the Severino deal and covering their Vegas ballpark costs all this month?

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

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Can Ohtani make the 50-50 club?; Astros Neris returns to Houston for second time; plus more

Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the ninth at Dodger Stadium on Fri Aug 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani became the sixth player to join the 40-40 club hitting a home run and stealing a base against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodgers Stadium on Friday night. Ohtani has been call a once in lifetime player and often compared to Babe Ruth being able to pitch and swing the bat.

#2 The Houston Astros signed right hander Hector Neris. This is Neris’ second time back with the Astros and he was a free agent when the Astros picked him up. The Astros did not disclose terms. Neris this season is 8-4, ERA 3.89 for the Chicago Cubs before being released on Thursday. Neris pitched for the Astros in 2022-23 going 12-7, ERA 2.69.

#3 Philadelphia Phillies centerfielder Alex Call has been place on the ten day IL due to a foot injury. The Phillies in turn called up catcher Drew Millas from Triple A Rochester. Call was hitting .343, with three home run and 14 RBIs. They’ll no doubt miss his bat.

#4 The San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis who is recovering from stress in the right thigh bone. Tatis took batting practice last Friday. Tatis has been out with the injury for the last two months. Tatis last played on June 21st and was placed on the IL on June 24th. Tatis was hitting .279, 14 home runs and 36 RBIs.

#5 The State of Nevada all of sudden has found public funds to finance a Warner Brothers studio in Las Vegas when they have no finances for public Schools. Nevada is already financing the future Las Vegas A’s with public tax money to the tune of $380 million and said they don’t have money to fund public schools. Same likely excuse when they fund for Warner Bros no money for schools and plenty for Warner Bros studios. Nevada is the number 34 out of 50 in the country in public education.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts Sundays 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

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

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Rich Perez: Fans and players talk about Sydney Opera House model stadium at Las Vegas Ballpark at A’s exhibition game

Las Vegas Ballpark the site of the two game series between the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A’s in Las Vegas for Fri Mar 8, 2024 and Sat Mar 9, 2024 (Las Vegas Review Journal photo)

On the A’s podcast with Rich Perez:

#1 Rich, your podcasting and covering the Oakland A’s for us at Las Vegas Ballpark for tonight’s exhibition game vs. the Milwaukee Brewers. You had a chance to get down on the field and also around the ball park and ask how Nevadans feel about spending $380 million in public money for a new ballpark.

#2 Are people in Las Vegas where your at right now convinced that they’ll get a return for their public money on a ballpark that the A’s and the State of Nevada expect to sell out every event there for some 30 years so it will be paid off?

#3 Oakland A’s owner John Fisher says he’s secured half of the $1.5 billion of his share towards the construction costs of the ballpark. That would mean he still needs to find the other $500 million the clock has ran out and something needs to be decided on soon.

#4 Rich how much do you see of this hold up getting the funding and waiting for a design in the form of blueprints putting baseball and the A’s behind schedule.

#5 Your there in Las Vegas the Aviators ballpark although the players some of them anyway marvel at the artist renderings of the proposed Sydney Opera House ballpark some say this is just an idea but not the real thing?

Rich Perez is covering the Oakland A’s in Las Vegas for Fri Mar 9 and Sat Mar 10 for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Relocaton podcast with Daniel Dullum: Kaval meets the media before A’s pre season game in Las Vegas

Rendering of Las Vegas Tropicana ballpark part of the Armadillo series (renderings presented by the Oakland A’s)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel you had a chance to look at the future Las Vegas A’s Tropicana Ballpark which has been referenced as a Sydney Opera Place look a like or a Armadillo which Oakland A’s owner John Fisher seems to take as a compliment.

#2 It’s a multilayered roof which has area that look out from behind the home plate and the outfield window has a view of Las Vegas Blvd where you could see the New York New York casino and hotel.

#3 Ironically when Fisher gave comments about the Armadillo renderings he was speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle from his Jack London Square offices where the A’s dream of having a ballpark is all but dead once the A’s start play in Las Vegas in 2028.

#4 Fisher also said the financing has been figured out $380 million from the State of Nevada, $200 million will be money owed, and the Fisher Family will pay $500 million this would include equity investors. The catch could be whose going to be on the hook for the final $500 million. Could that come from another investor group or will Fisher have that unsolved for the rest of the baseball season?

#5 When you look at all of it Daniel and we’ve talked to fans and analysts like yourself it seems that Schools over Stadiums is a long shot but the last chance to get an initiative on the November ballot that would stop the public money for financing the Tropicana. The other is the lawsuit filed by Strong Public Schools who say the Nevada Legislature’s vote was suppose to be a two thirds vote not a majority vote.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Vegas Mayor says A’s belong in Oakland; Schools over Stadiums ready to move language for petition drive to stop A’s ballpark funding

The Tropicana Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas the future home with the Las Vegas A’s hoping to break ground in April 2025. The issue of private financing has been so off schedule and unorganized that Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has said the “plans don’t make sense” (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, because of all the lawsuits the Oakland A’s might lose the public money because of all the lawsuits and the Schools over Stadiums initiative ballot that stops using public money that could make the public ballot. This money is only earmarked for the Tropicana location and no where else. The A’s might be having problems figuring how to get a ballpark on nine acres at the Trop.

#2 MLB had no comment after Las Vegas Mayor Goodman said that the A’s ought to stay in Oakland.

#3 Mayor Goodman can read between the lines as the reaction at the Chamber of Commerce meeting was cold and talk has been the business community now has it’s doubts about the A’s since owner John Fisher has been going hat in hand looking for financial support.

#4 It’s Super Bowl week Amaury, and you would think the biggest news in Vegas would be about the Big Game but now the Oakland A’s are a headline with the Mayor saying the A’s shouldn’t come to Vegas but stay in Oakland.

#5 Amaury, the Last Dive Bar and Oakland 68s who are strong A’s fan groups are holding a Fan Fest at Jack London Square in downtown Oakland proceeds will help with legal fees toward Schools over Stadiums in Las Vegas to stop the use of public money to finance the ballpark. The first step of success is Schools over Stadium had Oakland A’s fans raise enough money to cover Schools over Stadium’s legal fees to get language to stop the public funding and get a petition drive to get initiative on the ballot for the Nov 2024 election not to mention that Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has been named as a defendant by Schools over Stadiums.

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

Oakland A’s Relocaton podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada State lawmakers received $112,000 in contributions from A’s; A’s see dollars but those are Super Bowl dollars not game day dollars

Nevada Senate Majority Leaders Nicole Cannizzaro who voted for using public funding for the Las Vegas A’s/Tropicana ballpark on the Vegas Strip was one of 41 of 63 legislators who received a campaign contribution from the A’s after $380 million in funding was approved last Jun 2023. Only 10 legislators who voted against the funding received a contribution. (photo from ABC 8 News Now TV)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Hotel rooms in Las Vegas on an average night the week before Super Bowl LVIII are going for the mid $900s and going as high as $2833 a night. The A’s know an out of towner won’t spend this much during the regular baseball season but they and Bally’s Tropicana have visions of dollar signs dancing through their heads none the less.

#2 It was learned on Thursday that local and state lawmakers received $112,000 in contributions from the Oakland A’s. The lawmakers that received $10,000 out of the $112k contribution were Democrats from Las Vegas, Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager and Senate Minority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro.

#3 The public was made aware of the contributions when the finance reports for the quarter of Oct 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2023. The $112,000 contributions were made after the State Legislature approved the $380 million in public funds for the A’s new Las Vegas ballpark.

#4 Talk about the coincidence of legislators who did not receive contribution because either their not running for reelection or they voted against public financing for the Tropicana ballpark.

#5 On the face of this Daniel does this appear to be some sort of back room deal that’s not a back room deal and it’s quite open that if you voted for the new park your on board and you get your contribution and if you didn’t you don’t get any skin in the game?

Daniel Dullum takes a look at the Oakland A’s Relocation each Friday join him for the podcasts at www,sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Will A’s dump Tropicana for a third ballpark site?; Will Fisher have financing troubles for stadium?

The Foutainbleau location insiders say the A’s would consider the 27 acre site over the current ballpark site at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. The site is close to Circus Circus and Stratosphere on the Las Vegas strip (photo by the Las Vegas Review Journal)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast:

#1 Daniel a lot of discussion this past week since the owner approved the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas where will A’s owner John Fisher get funding for the stadium his share is $1.1 billion. He’s checking out possibilities for a loan from Goldman Sachs and his family as the State of Nevada has approved $380 million in public money for they’re share of the Tropicana ballpark.

#2 If Fisher can’t get the funding outright it more than likely will kill the deal. Bally’s could kick in but at $ 1.5 billion that’s a tall ask and will they end up being the ones being on the hook. Major League Baseball owners could shore up but still that’s a pretty steep bail out for Fisher.

#3 Schools over Stadiums is viewed as a long shot to get some 102,000 signatures on a petition that would put a referendum on the Nov 2024 ballot that would stop the $380 million public funding of the A’s Tropicana ballpark.

#4 The A’s are possibly looking into a third location near the Fountainbleau on the North East end of the strip, it would be near the Stratosphere, and Circus Circus. This third location is 27 acres as opposed to the nine acres the A’s are working with now. With the bigger site will the cost to John Fisher run more than the $1.1 billion he’s looking at with the nine acre Tropicana?

#5 Schools over Stadiums are planning to redo the petition at the advice of the judge who turned the petition language down in the last hearing on Mon Nov 6th. Once they get their consultation done with their legal staff Schools over Stadium will present the petition language to an Nevada appeals court and move forward with getting the 102,000 signatures split up amongst four Nevada districts.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com