FROM DREAM TO REALITY
There once was a time, not so long ago, any thoughts of Major League Sports in Las Vegas were immediately dismissed. – They said no one would come and watch them. All that changed in 2017 when the Golden Knights hockey team played their first game and the naysayers realized just how wrong they were.
Hello again, it’s Rocketman, Ken Baxter here coming to you from toasty Las Vegas, Nevada and thanks for visiting my blog!
With the enormous success of the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team, the Oakland Raiders became the Las Vegas Raiders. Allegiant Stadium was completed in just under 3 years even with the COVID 19 delays in construction. Following the Oakland Raiders football team is the Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball team, soon to be the Las Vegas Athletics.
I really hope they don’t keep the “Athletics” moniker; Las Vegas has so many other possibilities for a really great team name.
The official groundbreaking in June 2025 also marked the beginning of construction of the 33,000 capacity baseball stadium with a retractable roof that officials predict will be completed in time for Opening Day in 2028. The Stadium is being constructed on the site of the former, iconic Tropicana Hotel that was demolished in October, 2024 after a 67 year run.
The anticipated economic impact to the city
- $900 million in construction wages
- $17 million per year tax revenue
- 2,944 permanent jobs by 2030
In addition, consultants estimate that 53% of game attendees would be out-of-town visitors, and that about 405,000 of them annually wouldn’t have visited Las Vegas otherwise.
The biggest complaint from locals is the state of the Athletics Baseball team. The team finished their 2024 season in 4th place with a dismal record of 69-93; well below 500. Not dead last, but not playing the type of baseball that brings people to the ballpark. Las Vegas loves a winner. Let’s hope we can find one with this team.
Ken Baxter, signing off and thank you again for stopping by. Don’t forget to visit We The People, Green Global and Rocketman.
