State of Nevada Treasurer – Sports Radio Service

Drew Johnson candidate for the State of Nevada Treasurer said that the A’s Las Vegas ballpark will not be ready by 2028 and that it is wrong to force the taxpayers to pay for a multi billion dollar stadium (Las Vegas Review Journal photo)

Candidate for Treasurer in Nevada not Optimistic about the A’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Since we have listened to everybody, except Pope Leo XIV on the A’s, we should listen now to a future Treasurer. His name is Drew Johnson, and he is running for the office of Nevada State Treasurer. This is what he posted recently on X — “I’m excited to have the A’s in Vegas, but let’s get real: -It’s WRONG to force taxpayers to subsidize a stadium for a billionaire -It has NO CHANCE of being ready for opening day 2028 -I’ll be SHOCKED if it’s built at this location -The A’s will ask for MORE tax dollars.”

Johnson seems to side with the voting public. In this long story, so far, taxpayers have not been excited about the A’s moving to Sin City; in fact, polls taken in Nevada seem to favor those who prefer an expansion team over the now-maligned A’s franchise.

I believe by now in the world of baseball, the Athletics franchise does not have a good reputation, and I do not think you are going to see the A’s owner appear on one of those late-night television shows, smiling and having fun.

When Mr. Johnson stated, “It’s wrong to force taxpayers to subsidize a stadium for a billionaire.” It’s because he believes that is the consensus around the country, though there might be pockets that likely wouldn’t agree.

Drew Johnson makes sense, he is running for Treasurer of the State of Nevada, and in my mind, the people who have to deal with money are always more candid and realistic than, for example, entrepreneurs, politicians, and team owners and dreamers.

It is possible that if the A’s move to Sin City, Las Vegas will finally have one team from each of the main professional leagues. For the NBA, it would be more feasible to have a team, maybe even before the A’s play there.. NBA games are indoor, smaller capacity, and all at night, in a city that rocks at night, basketball is indeed perfecto for Las Vegas. Baseball? ay…ay…ay.

A’s ownership and representatives told the public that in Las Vegas, they were projecting sellout crowds of 33,000 per game for 81 games for the next 30 seasons. John Fisher wanted to leave Oakland, and the Commissioner Mr. Rob Manfred is a supporter, so basically we are just spectators.

We do not count here. But, we live in a free country and we all have opinions. Mine is below. Selling out a baseball park for 30 years in a town with little baseball tradition? Well, as a famous burlesque comedian once said in a punchline of a blue joke: “That I have to see.”

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.