If the A's Stadium Is Built, What Happens to the Las Vegas Aviators?

IF (big IF), the Oakland A’s ever move to Las Vegas, what happens to the Aviators? And to the fairly recently constructed Las Vegas Ballpark?

And

If the A’s stadium gets built and the team officially moves to Las Vegas, are the Aviators expected to remain in Summerlin or relocate elsewhere?

The Las Vegas Aviators, formerly known as the Las Vegas 51s and Las Vegas Stars, are a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). They're also the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, which probably prompted these two questions concerning a potential conflict stemming from an MiLB team playing in the same vicinity as its MLB affiliate.

Also as noted in the first question, the Aviators play their home games at Las Vegas Ballpark, a 10,000-seat stadium that opened in 2019 and is one of the best such facilities in the minor leagues.

Of course, as hinted at in the first question, we have to wait and see if the A's actually make it to Vegas first, contingent on their stadium being completed. But as far as we know, little to nothing will happen to the Aviators or their stadium when/if the A's come to town. Our question is, what would happen to their fine five-year-old stadium if the Aviators did move?

Several MiLB teams play in the same city or metropolitan area as MLB teams. For example, the Brooklyn Cyclones are the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets. The Los Angeles Angels' affiliate, the Inland Empire 66ers, play in San Bernardino (close enough for us). Likewise, around 50 miles away from the Washington Nationals stadium are their Single-A affiliate Fredericksburg Nationals, still in the same metro area. And the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, are located in Gwinnett County, just outside Atlanta. Then there are the Minnesota Twins and the St. Paul Saints and the Houston Astros and the Triple A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, who play 20 miles from Houston.

The A's and Aviators will also be roughly 20 miles apart. It's possible that the MiLB and MLB won't want two baseball teams to use Las Vegas in their names; in that event, we could see the MiLB team change its name to Summerlin Aviators.

Anything can happen, but we believe a name change would be the extent of anything dramatic happening in 2028 and even beyond, when the A's are supposed to start playing in their new stadium on the site of the Tropicana.

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Comments

Bob Sep-22-2024

Field of Dreams!

Now I don't have one of those fancy Ivy League MBA's or Nuttin' But, I think if I paid 148 Million for a casino/Hotel and signed a 50 year lease on the land under it @ 10.5 Million a year... I'd keep the damn thing operational and making money till I had a Signed Contract on a Stadium deal!  the next few years the A's will be playing in a 10,000-seat stadium in Sacramento, that might be a good fit for them. That's about all they have been putting in the Colosseum the past few years!

Kevin Rough Sep-22-2024

Philadelphia

For 13 years the Philadelphia Flyers AHL team, the Philadelphia Phantoms, played at the Spectrum, a building across the parking lot from where the Flyers played at the Wells Fargo Center.

Lucky Sep-24-2024

Stadium

Don't know what will happen to the site, but is sure ain't gonna be a baseball stadium.  The A's do not have the money.  The city will not benefit much.  I see a new casino at that site.  A much better fit.

Question of the Day - 22 September 2024

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