Las Vegas casino owner Derek Stevens has expressed his enthusiasm for the potential relocation of the Oakland Athletics MLB team to Las Vegas, saying that he intends to partner with the team upon their arrival.
Stevens told Las Vegas Review-Journal that he is “absolutely” interested in partnering with the Athletics, adding: “We love what we’ve done with other sports teams here, it’s had a big impact on our business. We’re obviously a bit more sports-oriented than other casinos. That’s why we’re enthusiastic about Major League Baseball coming here.”
Stevens, the co-owner of Circa, the D Las Vegas, and Golden Gate, attended a meeting with north Strip and downtown officials in February to review the A’s plans for a stadium site.
The original relocation concept was to build the stadium on the Las Vegas Festival Grounds property on the southwest corner of Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, but the A’s have since entered into an agreement with Station Casinos to purchase 49 acres at Tropicana and Dean Martin, the former Wild Wild West site.
Should they choose to relocate to Las Vegas, it is a safe bet that the north Strip and downtown resort operators would strongly support the team building a $1 billion ballpark in their area, among them Stevens’ Circa.
Stevens has been an aggressive advocate of presenting sports as entertainment, with games playing to revelers at Stadium Swim, and the majestic LED-screen layout at Circa Sportsbook.
He believes that baseball could thrive in Vegas, especially since the team’s 81 home dates will take up dates when “it’s a little bit of a slower time in Vegas.”
Stevens has a track record of successfully partnering with sports teams in Las Vegas, having held Golden Knights and Raiders watch parties at his Downtown Las Vegas Event Center.
The potential relocation of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas has also received support from other Las Vegas resort operators. Scott Sibella, president of Resorts World Las Vegas, has confirmed that he and hotel owners from the north Strip and downtown Las Vegas have been meeting with the A’s on the potential relocation.
If the A’s relocate to Las Vegas, it could further cement the city’s reputation as the “Entertainment and Sports Capital of the World,” with the potential for a new ballpark to become a major attraction for visitors and locals alike.
