LAS Vegas. Paul Blackburn played for the Triple-Aviators, who moved to the Las Vegas baseball stadium in 2019 and returned to the Oakland Athletics this weekend for an exhibition series against the Reds.

According to Blackburn, the stadium in the suburb of Summerlin hasn’t changed much since it opened, but the area around it has. On Saturday, he pointed to nearby apartment buildings, a cluster of office buildings, a garage, and all recent construction.

“I just feel like there’s more going on in this area right now,” Blackburn said. “When we first came here, we were kind of told that the stadium is the first step to this city (Summerlyn) that is growing, exploding or something like that. And I feel like it was pretty fast. It’s been three years and they’ve done a lot.”

Las Vegas Baseball Stadium proved to be a popular draw, rivaling the minor league leaders in attendance in its short life. A growing question is how Las Vegas, which has hosted a Triple-A team since 1983, could ever become the hometown of an MLB franchise.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Domingo Acevedo (68) signs autographs for young fans ahead of a spring practice game during Big League weekend against the Chicago Reds at Las Vegas Baseball Stadium on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Las Vegas. Miranda Alam / Special to The Chronicle

The A’s are looking into Las Vegas for a possible move, and are also in talks with Oakland about a proposed exemplary development. Meanwhile, Las Vegas, which has added NHL, NFL and WNBA franchises in recent years, is also a possible option for an MLB expansion team if that league eventually expands.

The A players who came to town for this weekend’s series emphasized that such decisions are made by people with higher titles, but offered some thoughts about Las Vegas as a potential MLB city.

“I think a major league team would fit here,” said Blackburn, a 2022 All-Star. “I think it’s a little different when you think of Vegas. Vegas is more like a destination city. And then you might run into days where you can feel like you’re playing home away—especially when you’re playing big market teams, you’re playing the Yankees, teams that travel really well.

“But from what I’ve seen, the fans are coming out and supporting the Triple-A level here. I don’t understand why a major league team can’t survive in this city.”

The Las Vegas Triple-A team has been tied with the Padres (1983–2000), Dodgers (2001–08), Blue Jays (2009–12) and Mets (2013–18) to the top five. The team played at Cashman Field before moving to a well-equipped but minor league-sized Las Vegas baseball stadium, where 8,196 fans celebrated an official sell-out.

“It’s one of those things that we need to see,” said outfielder Seth Brown, who also played in 2019 with the Aviators. “I think it would probably be pretty cool no matter who (the team) was. The place of the Raiders turned out to be very good. So I think whoever is here, they will take care of themselves and probably have a pretty good stadium.”

A potential MLB stadium in Las Vegas may need funding other than Allegiant Stadium, as some local officials seem reluctant to release state A funding similar to what the Raiders received. However, when asked what would make Las Vegas an attractive MLB city, Brown cited factors that go beyond that.

“I think that’s just everything,” Brown said. “More center. The flights there and back are much easier, the journey will be much better. It’s one of those things to do in Vegas.”

As Blackburn noted, one issue will be local turnout for an MLB team that plays 81 home games in a season. The Aviators led all Triple-A tournaments in attendance in 2019 and topped the Pacific Coast League last year. But their average 2022 audience of 6,910, and minor league baseball attendance well below pre-pandemic levels, was far less than the MLB team had expected.

“They put out a good product and it was a fun, entertaining environment for minor league play,” said infielder Kevin Krohn, who played in the 2018-19 PCL with the Renos. “Whether a major league team comes here or not, it’s way above my salary. But it’s an amazing city, it’s fun. I think there’s a lot of engagement here, people love being here, it’s exciting.”

While Summerlin is about 25 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, the potential MLB stadium could be closer, creating a unique environment for teams both visiting and home.

“I came here as a Triple-A player and it was the best five days of my life. Are you kidding me?” said Jason Giambi, a former baseman and AL MVP who lives in Las Vegas and was at Saturday’s game with his son’s youth tour team. one in the morning, go out for breakfast, go see a show. Whatever you want to do. It’s a little wild, wild West. And nowhere else is that.”

Mikayla Mayer (L) and Megan Mayer take a selfie before the Oakland Athletics play the Chicago Reds in a spring practice game during Big League Weekend at Las Vegas Stadium on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Las Vegas . Miranda Alam / Exclusive to The Chronicle

However, the NHL Golden Knights, NFL Raiders, and WNBA Aces have moved to home arenas near or along the strip in recent years.

“I think as a baseball player your job is to play baseball and you can’t let anything get in the way of your work,” Brown said. “We’re lucky to do what we do, and no matter where you go in any city, it’s one of those things that you have to treat like your job.”

Pitcher Drew Ruczynski, who played in the PCL when the Las Vegas team played at Cashman Field, added: “For me, I want to be a pro, my job is on the field. In this way, you try not to let all external things distract you. It’s hard when you walk out of a hotel room and there are slot machines all the way to the lobby – I understand why guys get into it. But I try to stay away from it, mind my own business.”

“A” manager Mark Kotsay admitted, “There are a lot of distractions here. But for the professional teams that are already here, this does not seem like a big problem. … I think that as a visiting player you can be more distracted, unlike someone (for whom) this is home and where they play every day.

Blackburn and Brown, two long-serving “A” players, agreed on one thing.

“I’ll say it’s time for a new stadium, whether it’s Oakland or somewhere else,” Brown said. “The fans there are great – I have always loved the Oakland A fans. However, I think the time for a decision must come. This stadium, this is a special stadium, it has a rich history. But it’s just that time.”

Blackburn said: “None of us have any say in what happens or where the club is going. … I feel like a new stadium is needed, be it in Oakland or Vegas, be it a completely different city. So I guess it’s just where it lands, it lands there.”

Contact Matt Kawahara: [email protected]

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