Former Miami Marlins president David Samson isn’t sold on Rob Manfred’s promise that the A’s $1.5B Vegas stadium will be ready by 2028. Samson, a vocal critic of baseball’s leadership, believes Manfred is selling an unrealistic timeline to A’s fans and that delays are all but inevitable.
MLB has repeatedly stated that the Athletics’ new 30,000-seat retractable-roof stadium will open in time for the 2028 season. However, Samson warns that the timeline simply doesn’t add up. Demolition of the Tropicana Hotel site—the future home of the stadium—is scheduled for April 2025, leaving just under three years for construction. “A project of this magnitude takes at least 36 months to complete,” Samson said. “And that’s without any unexpected delays, which always happen.”
If the As aim to kick off the 2028 season in their new stadium smoothly on Opening Day. They must have it prepared well ahead of time for trial events as well as exhibition matches and thorough operational inspections. “You don’t just open the doors on Opening Day and say, ‘I guess we’re open for business,’” Samson said on his show “Nothing Personal with David Samson.”
Beyond construction doubts, Samson also questioned the credibility of the Athletics’ ticket deposit system, which launched last week. Fans can reserve priority access to season tickets by placing a $19.01 deposit—a nod to the franchise’s 1901 origins in Philadelphia. Samson dismissed the move as a PR stunt meant to generate artificial excitement and boost public perception.
“There is no direct correlation between deposits and actual ticket sales,” he argued. “It’s a great way to make headlines and pretend there’s demand.” He also pointed out that the deposit amount is oddly nostalgic for a fan base that likely doesn’t care about the A’s origins in Philadelphia. Even if the Vegas stadium stays on schedule, the A’s have no home from 2025-2027. Their Coliseum lease ends this season, and MLB has no solid plan. Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and minor league splits are rumored, but nothing’s set.
The Athletics have alienated Oakland, but they haven’t exactly secured Las Vegas either. They’re still trying to prove they can draw a crowd, still struggling to sell the vision, and still staring at a long list of unanswered questions. Rob Manfred can promise all he wants, but Samson’s message is clear: believe it when you see it.
The Athletics $1.5 billion question: where is the money coming from?
Securing the funding for the Athletics planned $1.5 billion stadium in Las Vegas involves a blend of funding and private financing methods. However, uncertainties persist regarding the seamless execution of this financial arrangement. has approved $380M for the A’s Vegas stadium—$180M in state aid and $120M in county bonds—plus tax breaks to ease costs. But the team still needs $1.1B in private funding. With rising construction costs and doubts about revenue in a smaller market, investors may hesitate to jump in.
Stadium costs rarely stay on budget, and the A’s $1.5B Vegas project is no exception. Union labor, supply chain snags, and scorching heat could drive up costs—despite Nevada’s promise that taxpayers won’t foot the bill. That leaves us with a question if the expenses start to escalate beyond control will team owner John Fisher take on the burden or will the A’s look to secure more public funding instead?
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