Courtesy of AP
This rendering provided by the Oakland Athletics on May 26, 2023, shows a view of their proposed new ballpark at the Tropicana site in Las Vegas.
Monday, Aug. 21, 2023 | 11:13 a.m.
The Athletics have retained a pair of industry-leading construction firms to lead the development of the team’s proposed $1.5 billion baseball stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.
The Mortenson | McCarthy Joint Venture — the same partnership that built Allegiant Stadium — will be responsible for “overseeing all construction-related activities,” the A’s announced today.
That includes preconstruction estimations, scheduling and logistics planning, bidding, coordination and management of the project’s labor and community engagement.
The hiring of Mortenson | McCarthy is contingent upon approval by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority.
The A’s did not detail specific dimensions or capacities for the ballpark. But state lawmakers this year approved a $380 million public financing package for a roughly 30,000-seat stadium on nine acres at the site of the Tropicana.
“Mortenson | McCarthy brings an exceptional level of expertise and experience to our project,” A’s President Dave Kaval said in a statement. “Their focus on innovation, safety and efficiency makes them the best in their field.”
He noted the success of the Allegiant Stadium project, specifically the inclusion of small and minority-owned businesses.
According to Mortenson’s website, the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium project awarded $297 million to 169 small businesses, accounting for 23% of the awarded contracts and exceeding the state’s mandate of 15% small-business engagement.
In a January 2021 community benefits report, Mortenson | McCarthy noted 80% of the 12,000 construction workers retained for the project were Las Vegas locals, and 63% of the project's workforce satisfied diversity requirements.
Minneapolis-based Mortenson Co. has been retained in a number of professional sports developments nationwide.
Among them: MLB ballparks Truist Park in Atlanta and Target Field in Minneapolis; the Chase Center in San Francisco, where the NBA’s Golden State Warriors play; Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken; and U.S. Bank Field, home of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, also in Minneapolis.
“It is a tremendous opportunity for Mortenson | McCarthy to build a new home for A’s baseball in Las Vegas,” Mortenson Vice President and General Manager Logan Gerkin said in a statement.
“Our goal is to build sports and entertainment facilities that excite the fans, enhance communities and set a new benchmark in what’s possible,” Gerkin said.
McCarthy Building Cos. is a construction company more tailored to hospitality venues and has helped build Las Vegas casinos including Circa, the Virgin and the Palms.
“The Mortenson | McCarthy Joint Venture is grateful for the opportunity to partner together with the Las Vegas community to deliver another landmark project,” said Ross Edwards, senior vice president at McCarthy.
“The A’s new ballpark will be an exciting addition to Las Vegas and represents the combined efforts of many who are helping to build up our city – from the craft professionals on site to area businesses and broader community supporters,” he said.
Hiring companies to build the ballpark marks the latest progress as the A’s seek to cement their move from the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Tropicana would be closed and demolished next year to make way for a ballpark on a section of the 36-acre site, officials said. A new resort would be built on the remaining parcel, officials said.
A majority of team owners still must approve the relocation to make it official. A final decision could come at the MLB Winter Meetings Dec. 3-6.
The A’s stadium funding bill, which lawmakers passed after Gov. Joe Lombardo summoned them for a special session, includes $180 million in transferable tax credits provided by the state, in addition to $125 million in general obligation bonds that will be issued by Clark County and an additional $25 million fronted by the county to construct in the stadium’s surrounding infrastructure.
