Nevada’s Teacher’s Union Takes Action to Block Public Funding for A’s Stadium

Kyle Muller (39) of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the top of the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland on May 16, 2023. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Nevada State Education Association (NSEA) is taking action to block public funding for the construction of a new baseball stadium for the Oakland A’s to move to Las Vegas in a campaign launched on Thursday.

The statewide teachers union vowed to pursue “every possible path” to stop the use of public financing, including litigation or even a referendum effort.

“We are considering every path to prevent public funds from being used to subsidize a billionaire’s stadium,” NSEA spokesman Alexander Marks said Thursday.

The campaign comes in the form of a new political action committee (PAC), Schools Over Stadiums, that the union registered (pdf) on Wednesday with the secretary of state’s office.

In this rendering released by the Oakland Athletics on Friday, is a view of their proposed new ballpark at the Tropicana site in Las Vegas on May 26, 2023. (Oakland Athletics via AP)

Representatives of the union said that the campaign and PAC are responding to a “giveaway of hundreds of millions in tax dollars to a California billionaire for a stadium” at a time when Nevada schools are ranked as among the worst in the country (pdf).

“Nevada’s priorities are misguided, and public funds should not go to a California billionaire for a stadium,” NSEA President Dawn Etcheverry said in a statement.

NSEA members criticized the decision to call a special session over public financing for the stadium when legislators failed to take significant action to reduce class sizes or generate new revenue for schools and educators.

“Instead of hiring part-time stadium workers, let’s ensure each student has a qualified and full-time educator in the classroom,” said Vicki Kreidel, president of NSEA affiliate group NEA of Southern Nevada.

Gov. Joe Lombardo signed into law a bill that would provide $380 million toward the $1.5-billion stadium the A’s and owner John Fisher plan to build in Las Vegas.

Major League Baseball owners are expected to approve the proposed relocation, the first in the league since 2005, with the A’s organization hoping to open the new stadium in 2028.

Lawmakers passed the bill that committed up to $380 million in public financing through a combination of tax credits and county-issued bonds to help fund the project. The proposed $1.5 billion, 30,000-seat baseball stadium is set to be built on the south end of the Strip on 9 acres of a 35-acre parcel that houses the Tropicana Hotel Casino.

“I’m excited to sign SB1 this afternoon officially,” Lombardo said in a statement. “This is an incredible opportunity to bring the A’s to Nevada, and this legislation reflects months of negotiations between the team, the state, the county, and the league. Las Vegas’ position as a global sports destination is only growing, and Major League Baseball is another tremendous asset for the city.”

The Athletics thanked Governor Lombardo for helping take “a significant step forward in securing a new home.”

“We are excited about Southern Nevada’s dynamic and vibrant professional sports scene, and we look forward to becoming a valued community member through jobs, economic development, and the quality of life and civic pride of a Major League Baseball team,” the Athletics said in a statement.

This move comes after failed attempts by Oakland to keep the team in the Bay area.

Oakland mayor Sheng Thao has said previously that the city had $375 million in commitments toward a new stadium.

“There was a very concrete proposal under discussion, and Oakland had gone above and beyond to clear hurdles, including securing funding for infrastructure, providing an environmental review, and working with other agencies to finalize proposals,” the mayor’s statement said.

Petitioners would need to file with the secretary of state no earlier than Aug. 1, then within 10 business days, the secretary of state would post a copy of the petition, and petitioners could begin collecting signatures. The petitioners must collect and submit signatures by July 8, 2024.

If a petition receives enough signatures and a simple majority of Nevadans vote in favor of the corresponding ballot question, it would pass and change state law.

It is unclear whether the A’s would proceed with the move without public funding. During testimony before the Nevada legislature, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President Steve Hill said he believed the A’s would not return to Oakland if the Las Vegas deal fell apart but would instead look to move elsewhere. Portland and Salt Lake City would be among the likely suitors.

The City of San Jose also sent a letter to Manfred earlier this month asking Major League Baseball to suspend the San Francisco Giants’ territorial rights to the South Bay. If the league approved the measure, it could open the door for the A’s or an expansion team to move there.

“We are currently involved in a complicated relocation process with the Oakland A’s,” Manfred wrote in a letter to San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “At least until that process is complete, we are not in a position to take any other action with respect to the territories in Northern California or to consider the possibility of expansion.”