A’s Las Vegas Ballpark Groundbreaking Marks Start of $1.75B “Armadillo” on Tropicana Site
The Oakland Athletics broke ground on June 23, 2025, for a 33,000-seat, $1.75 billion “armadillo” stadium at the former Tropicana site on the Las Vegas Strip, targeting completion for the 2028 MLB season and a new era for the franchise.
Key takeaways
- Groundbreaking: June 23, 2025; owner John Fisher said,
We are Vegas’ team.
— ESPN - Cost & capacity: $1.75 billion budget with a 33,000-seat capacity — ESPN
- Design: Signature “armadillo” form by BIG and HNTB, featuring a ~36,000 sq ft cable-net glass wall — Dezeen
- Public funding: $380 million approved via Nevada and Clark County (Senate Bill 1); oversight and lease terms remain focal points — Background
Groundbreaking ceremony and message
On Monday, June 23, 2025, the Athletics held a visible groundbreaking on the 9‑acre parcel at Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. Owner John Fisher stood near piles of dirt and a marked home plate and declared, “We are Vegas’ team.” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred attended and praised Las Vegas for its demographics and tourism draw, while state and local officials joined team leaders to mark the start of visible work.
“We are Vegas’ team.” — John Fisher at the June 23, 2025 ceremony (coverage: ESPN)
What’s being built and who designed it
The ballpark — informally referred to in coverage as the Tropicana Las Vegas Stadium or the A’s Las Vegas Ballpark — is a signature project by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) with design and planning support from HNTB. The form is described as an armadillo composed of five overlapping arched volumes. At the primary entrance the design features a sweeping roof and what the team calls the world’s largest cable‑net glass wall of roughly 36,000 square feet.
Structural and systems engineering are provided by Thornton Tomasetti and Henderson Engineers. Renderings and technical timetables have been shared publicly as part of ongoing transparency and oversight (see coverage: Dezeen, Review‑Journal).
Construction progress and schedule
Site work started after Clark County approvals. Grading began April 22, 2025, and the Mortenson‑McCarthy joint venture had drilled caissons by May 13, 2025. Team leadership reported rapid early activity: deck and concourse pours were underway immediately after the ceremony, with about half of deck pours completed in the progress update.
Near‑term milestones outlined by team president Marc Badain include:
- Steel work in the bowl to begin March 2026
- Five of six roof buttresses in place by end of February 2026; sixth in spring 2026
- Roof steel visible by June 2026; building frame taking shape through summer and early fall 2026
- Escalator deliveries and installation to follow within weeks of the ceremony
Progress reports and construction updates are posted by the club (preview center & updates: Athletics ballpark construction).
Funding, leases and public money
The project relies in part on public financing. Nevada and Clark County approved $380 million in public funds via a special session and Senate Bill 1 in June 2023. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority signed final lease and development agreements in December 2024, including a 30‑year rent‑free lease for the A’s that contains a buyout option. Those terms remain central to public oversight and debate.
Observers and watchdog groups continue to watch traffic studies, infrastructure impacts, labor commitments and long‑term public liabilities as construction proceeds (background on financing and lease: background).
Team moves and identity
MLB owners unanimously approved the Athletics’ relocation in November 2024. The A’s will play temporarily in West Sacramento beginning in 2025 while Las Vegas construction continues; players and staff have worn Sacramento‑Las Vegas patches during the transition. The move ends the franchise’s long run in Oakland and brings MLB back to a prominent Strip location alongside the Raiders, Golden Knights and Aces.
Implications for Huntington Beach, California
Economic impact: Residents in Orange County now have a short‑flight weekend option to follow the A’s, which may boost hotel stays, airline bookings and event packages. Local travel and hospitality businesses could see increased demand for group tickets and packages tied to marquee games.
Political consequences: For conservative leaders in Huntington Beach, the deal presents talking points about inter‑state competition for businesses, the use of public subsidies, and lease language that could inform future local policy debate.
Social and cultural: Families and youth baseball programs may form ties with the A’s community outreach in Southern Nevada, while longtime Oakland fans may mourn the move. Huntington Beach’s surf‑centered identity remains distinct, but residents gain a nearby MLB destination.
Practical applications:
- Travel: nonstop and short‑connection flights from Orange County airports make Las Vegas an accessible weekend option.
- Tickets & packages: the club opened a preview center and sales operation — local travel businesses can monitor group package availability (preview & sales: Review‑Journal, Athletics ballpark construction).
- Contracting: rapid schedule may create demand for skilled trades and subcontracting opportunities, including for California firms.
Oversight to watch
Conservative stakeholders and local officials should watch how Nevada’s public investment is spent, whether the stadium meets its 2028 completion target, and how the lease buyout language affects long‑term liabilities. Results here may shape future debates over incentives, infrastructure and public oversight for high‑profile projects.
Sources and further reading
- ESPN: Athletics celebrate groundbreaking at $1.75B Vegas stadium
- Dezeen: BIG’s armadillo stadium design for the Athletics breaks ground
- Las Vegas Review‑Journal: A’s Las Vegas ballpark timeline
- Athletics ballpark construction updates (preview center details)
- Project video footage (ceremony)
- Background on financing and lease
