The Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise has hired CAA ICON as the consultancy for the team’s planned new Las Vegas ballpark.
CAA ICON will play a central role in the management of the project, including oversight of the design and construction of the 30,000-seat stadium, which is expected to cost approximately $1.5bn (£1.2bn/€1.4bn).
CAA ICON served in a similar role in partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders for the construction of the NFL American football franchise’s Allegiant Stadium, and also with the Las Vegas Golden Knights for the development of the NHL ice hockey team’s T-Mobile Arena.
The Athletics – better known as the Oakland A’s – had already selected Mortenson-McCarthy as the construction manager for the stadium. The joint venture was behind the development of Allegiant Stadium.
“CAA ICON is the unrivalled leader in the management of sports venue development,” team president Dave Kaval said. “They are the best firm to oversee the representation of our ownership team and transform our ballpark vision into reality.”
Charlie Thornton, CAA ICON’s co-CEO, added: “We are so grateful that the A’s have entrusted us to oversee this landmark project on their behalf. Ownership’s vision for this project is undoubtedly unique to the league and will become a key part of the Las Vegas sports story.”
A’s owner John Fisher confirmed last month that the team had submitted an application to relocate to Las Vegas.
The relocation requires approval from MLB. In June, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed off on a bill that will provide up to $380m in public funding for the stadium, setting up what will likely be a months-long process for the league to approve the franchise’s relocation.
