Oakland A’s relocation continues to struggle

The Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas is no closer to completion, as the Nevada State Education Association (NESA) is preparing to file an injunction to block the $380 million in public funds for the A’s, on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

The $380 million was approved last June by the Nevada Government to build a stadium for the A’s on the grounds of the Tropicana Hotel on the Strip. The team is expected to start playing there in 2028. Stadiums Over Schools, a political action group created by NESA, is the leader behind the injunction, citing that it was launched in response to the public spending going towards the stadium when Nevada schools rank 48th in the nation in per-pupil funding, while having the largest class sizes in the nation, according to their website.

Dawn Etcheverry, a music teacher and president of both NSEA and Schools Over Stadiums, has expressed reservations regarding Nevada's use of public funds to support a stadium owned by a California billionaire. On their website, she stressed, "For years, Nevada educators have been sounding the alarm over the dire conditions in our schools. The aim of Schools Over Stadiums is to correct this course and refocus on Nevada’s genuine priorities - our children, parents, and educators."

NESA's legal strategy involves securing over 100,000 signatures by June 26 to initiate a referendum, according to CBS Sports. If the public vote materializes, there is a possibility that the relocation of the Athletics could face opposition due to a lack of support from many local residents.

Chris Daly, the NESA deputy executive director of government relations, commented on the situation at the Oakland A’s Fans Fest, stating, "We’re not depending solely on John Fisher’s incompetence to derail this deal. While it doesn’t hurt, the ultimate defeat of the Tropicana stadium agreement will result from a combination of efforts from Oakland A’s fans, our initiatives at Schools Over Stadiums and Strong Public Schools, and John Fisher’s ineptitude."