The Oakland Athletics' 2026 schedule includes a surprise event ahead of its Las Vegas relocation.
The team will enjoy a six-game home stand at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of its Triple-A affiliate, the Aviators. The A's will play the Milwaukee Brewers from June 8-10 and then the Colorado Rockies from June 12-14.
Key Takeaways
- The A’s will play a six-game regular-season home stand at Las Vegas Ballpark.
- The Downtown Summerlin venue sits about 13 miles from the A’s future Strip stadium location.
- The 2026 slate begins March 26 in Toronto with an April 3 home opener in West Sacramento.
Las Vegas Ballpark is located roughly 13 miles from the A's new stadium site on the Las Vegas Strip, which is slated to open in 2028.
“We get an opportunity to take this ballclub to our future home to showcase a regular-season game,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “I think that’s just going to help get the community in Vegas excited, and it’s going to help us when we get there in 2028. We’re excited to go in and play in front of what will be our home crowds, create that excitement and get them familiar with names like Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom and Shea Langeliers.”
The 2026 season will begin with an away series against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 26 before the A's return home for their April 3 opener against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park.
Las Vegas stadium breaks ground
The special home stand announcement comes as construction progresses on the Athletics' future permanent home in Las Vegas. Danish architecture studio BIG, in collaboration with U.S. firm HNTB, has broken ground on the new stadium, which will serve as the club's full-time ballpark beginning in 2028.
The nine-acre site sits between Tropicana Avenue and Reno Avenue and will feature a facade of square metal panels along with a dramatic cable-net glass wall at its main entrance. If completed as planned, the wall would be the largest of its kind in the world.
Decline in Las Vegas tourism raises concerns
While the A's prepare for their long-term future in Las Vegas, the city is facing challenges with declining visitor numbers. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported that June's overall visitation was down 11.3% compared to last year, with convention attendance down 10.7%.
The slump has affected service personnel across the Strip, who rely heavily on tips. Economists have also warned that Las Vegas tends to reflect overall downturns, with the housing crash of 2008-09 providing a clear precedent when visitation fell by the same proportion.
Higher hotel rates and higher gaming minimums may be discouraging middle-class tourists, and pervasive online and land gaming options have eliminated the necessity for traveling to Nevada.
Analysts note the city's challenges highlight the risk of economies that rely on tourism, even as Las Vegas spends on massive projects such as the Athletics' new stadium.
