Wednesday, May 17, 2023 | 12:44 p.m.
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Two-thirds of Clark County voters support the Athletics’ proposal for a ballpark in Las Vegas, according to a poll conducted for the team.
The A’s, who are planning to move from Oakland, Calif., to Las Vegas, have an agreement with Bally’s Corp. to build a $1.5 billion ballpark on the Tropicana casino site.
“We’re very pleased by these poll numbers and the overall support,” A’s President Dave Kaval said in a statement.
“We look forward to delivering a world-class ballpark and all the benefits Major League Baseball brings, including jobs, economic and community impacts, and civic pride,” he said.
The poll of 700 registered voters found each element of the plan enjoys majority support, including a proposed public-private partnership and the location, the team said. Both received roughly two-thirds support, according to the poll.
“Even after hearing all arguments for and against the proposal, two thirds (66%) support the plan,” the team said in a statement.
The Mellman Group conducted the poll between April 29 and May 5. That was before the A’s announced they were scrapping a proposal to build the stadium at another site — a 49-acre plot at Tropicana Avenue and Dean Martin Drive.
The proposed ballpark, which would seat about 30,000 people, is pending passage of state legislation for public financing and other related agreements, according to Bally’s. The team is seeking about $395 million in public funding to finalize the deal, a source said.
The poll shows “broad support for building a ballpark for the Athletics across party lines, age group, race and other demographics,” Mark Mellman, president of the Mellman Group, said in a statement. “Even more notably, there is only limited opposition."
The poll’s margin of error is plus-minus 3.8% overall at a 95% level of confidence.
Mary Beth Sewald, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber, said having Major League Baseball on the Strip “would be a significant step in our city’s evolution into a vibrant international center of professional sports.”
Peter Guzman, president of the Latin Chamber of Commerce, also issued a statement of support, saying, “Let’s get this ballpark under construction as soon as possible so Las Vegas can also claim the A’s as another hometown team.”