The Athletics are positioning their planned $2 billion Strip ballpark to host World Baseball Classic games when the tournament returns in 2029 or 2030, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The 33,000-seat stadium, set to open in 2028, was pitched to Nevada lawmakers in May 2023 as a venue capable of hosting major events including the WBC. During a presentation to the Legislature, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority president and CEO Steve Hill displayed a slide featuring the WBC logo among other events.
“What we outlined here on this page showing you some logos is just a partial list of events that have approached us that have interest in being in Las Vegas that don’t necessarily either have the ability to have it in a venue that we have, such as the Major League Baseball All-Star game or the World Baseball Classic,” Hill said.
This year’s WBC final was played Tuesday night in Miami between the USA and Venezuela. The tournament featured 20 international teams divided into four pools, with games held in Houston, Miami, Tokyo, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Miami’s loanDepot park has hosted the last two championship games.
MLB representatives did not respond to a request for comment about Las Vegas potentially hosting future WBC games. The A’s received up to $380 million in public funding for the ballpark during the legislative process that also highlighted the stadium’s potential to attract events like the WBC.
Las Vegas has rapidly become a hub for major sporting events, having hosted or been scheduled to host two Super Bowls, two WrestleManias (2025, 2026), the 2027 College Football Playoff championship game, and the 2028 Men’s NCAA Final Four.
