A look into how Vegas’s new stadium is integrating innovative design features and reshaping the city's sports and entertainment landscape
By: Lauren Cuppy
March 26, 2024
Photo Credit: Oakland A's on X
Following the completion of a Formula 1 track and the iconic Sphere, Las Vegas will keep evolving through ongoing construction efforts focused on enhancing its sports and entertainment scene. On Tuesday, March 5th, the Oakland Athletics released renderings of their new stadium in Las Vegas via X. They named Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) as the design lead, along with HNTB serving as the sports/hospitality designer and architect of record. This project with the Athletics is the company's first official collaboration designing a stadium for a sports franchise. The stadium is estimated to cost around $1.5 billion, with approximately $340 million funded by state taxpayers in Nevada.
The design boasts many innovative and impressive features of the new structure that challenge the typical prototype of a ballpark. Notably, the renderings include an 18,000-square-foot jumbotron arching over the field, which would be the largest stadium screen in the MLB. This screen is one of the five layers of the overlapping roof, which many fans believe closely resembles the Sydney Opera House in Australia. In actuality, the roof was strategically designed to prioritize fans’ comfort in the Vegas heat, blocking direct sunlight but allowing “soft daylight” (Las Vegas Review Journal). Additionally, the park’s translucent structure allows fans to see iconic views of the Strip and the New York-New York hotel skyline from their seats inside the venue.
Sitting on the corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, the stadium’s construction will come at the cost of the Tropicana Las Vegas, a hotel-casino that has been around since 1957. The hotel is scheduled to close on April 2nd in preparation for demolition, and construction on the new ballpark is to begin in 2025. Doors are estimated to open for business 3 years later in 2028. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the ballpark plans to take up 9 acres of the 35-acre Tropicana site, with 3 acres designated for retail spaces, food trucks, and activities for visitors. This plaza adds a unique touch to the fan experience of attending a baseball game, as it is envisioned to reflect the culture and art of Las Vegas. To replace the original hotel, Bally’s Corporation, Tropicana’s owner, plans to construct a new hotel-casino on the remaining portion of the property.
As the city continues to evolve, balancing new developments with existing landmarks, Las Vegas remains a powerhouse of immersive experiences and vibrant entertainment. The Athletics are hoping that the construction of a state-of-the-art ballpark in Las Vegas will bring them the relevance they are craving to earn through relocation.