LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – A Nevada teachers union said they are working to prevent public funding for a new Las Vegas ballpark.
On Thursday, the Nevada State Education Association formed a political action committee called Schools Over Stadiums in response to Nevada lawmakers passing a bill to give the Oakland A’s money to build a new stadium if they move to the valley.
RELATED LINK: Governor Lombardo Signs Oakland A’s Stadium Bill
“Nevada’s priorities are wrong and public funds should not be going to a California billionaire for a stadium,” said Dawn Etcheverry, music teacher and president of NSEA and Schools Over Stadiums. “For years, Nevada educators have been sounding an SOS about the terrible conditions in our schools. Schools Over Stadiums’ goal is to right that ship and keep the focus on Nevada’s true priorities: our children, our parents and our educators.”
Today, we’re launching Schools Over Stadiums to start litigation and a statewide vote on the stadium. Nevada’s priorities are wrong and public funds should not be going to a billionaire for a stadium. Our goal is to keep the focus on our true priorities: our children and educators. pic.twitter.com/vvtaapyz2I
— Schools over stadiums (@EduOverStadiums) June 29, 2023
“As the next school year approaches, Clark County is facing thousands of educator vacancies,” said Southern Nevada NEA President and Reading Teacher Vicki Kreidel. “Instead of hiring part-time stadium workers, let’s make sure every student has a full-time, qualified educator in the classroom. Instead of a stadium, let’s build classrooms for 30,000 students. Instead of funding billionaires, we fully fund public education.”
Two weeks ago, Gov. Joe Lombardo signed the bill into law, which would allocate $380 million in public funds for a new Major League Baseball stadium to be located on the site of the Tropicana Las Vegas. As of June 21, sources told Channel 13 that the Oakland A’s have begun the transfer application process to move to Las Vegas.
RELATED LINK: Bally’s Executive: Tropicana probably won’t be played for 2 years
The months-long process will include a relocation committee that will study the proposed relocation and make recommendations to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and an eight-person executive board. The council makes a recommendation to all clubs, who must approve the move with at least a three-quarters vote. The only member announced so far is Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, who will chair the relocation committee.
“I don’t have a firm timeline,” Manfred said. “It depends on when the application comes in and how much time the committee feels it needs to review it.”
The city of San Jose also sent a letter to Manfred earlier this month asking Major League Baseball to suspend the San Francisco Giants’ ground rights in the South Bay. If the league approved the move, it could open the door for the A’s or an expansion team to move there. However, Manfred refused this offer.
“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 this process is complete, we are not in a position to take any further action with respect to the Northern California territories or to consider the possibility of expansion.”
RELATED LINK: Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott and Tom Hanks Speak Out Against A’s Move
Many Bay Area fans have been against the team moving to Las Vegas. A’s fans staged a reverse boycott earlier this month, which Manfred said doesn’t change “a decade of inaction.” He made comments after the game, calling that night’s crowd of 27,759 fans “pretty much an average Major League Baseball crowd,” though Manfred said those comments were taken out of context.
According to ESPN, the Oakland A’s rank last in attendance in Major League Baseball. The team averages 9,841 per game. The team is not doing well on the field either. Oakland has the worst record in the league with 21 wins and 62 losses. On Wednesday, the New York Yankees played the A’s. Yankees pitcher Domingo German didn’t let a single Oakland batter get on base and threw his first perfect game in 11 years.
