The Las Vegas Athletics Are Already Ahead of the Game
Posted on: May 15, 2026, 12:10h.
Last updated on: May 15, 2026, 12:10h.
- Young, talented core set to lead the Athletics into Las Vegas for the 2028 season
- Construction moving quickly on $2 billion, 33,000-seat stadium off the Las Vegas Strip
- Oakland A’s currently sit in first place in American League West
It’s starting to look real in Las Vegas, for the new MLB team scheduled to start play there in 2028, with construction on the new $2 billion, 33,000-seat domed ballpark on the Strip well underway.
Stadium Construction Update
The foundation is down, and vertical steel and concrete construction is taking shape.
As most people know, this isn’t an expansion team scenario, where the roster is built from scratch. It’s the Oakland A’s that will be moving over, a team currently playing at a Triple-A stadium in West Sacramento. On June 8-14, at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Las Vegas Aviators Triple-A club, the Oakland A’s will host a special homestead series, three games versus the Milwaukee Brewers followed by three versus the Colorado Rockies.
The franchise intends to continue as the “Athletics”. And like the stadium where they’ll ply their trade in less than two years, the A’s have a roster foundation that bodes well for how competitive the Las Vegas team will be when they hit their new turf in 2028.
Young, Power-Hitting Lineup
The Oakland A’s are first place in the American League West this morning, at 22-21. No one saw that coming, including sportsbook traders. On March 31, BetMGM had the A’s at +10000 to win the World Series. This morning they are +6000.
No, a record a notch above .500 isn’t setting the world on fire but go down the list of big surprises this MLB season and the Athletics looking like contenders is in the Top 5.
Despite pitching issues (21st in the MLB in team ERA, at 4.36), that young power-hitting offensive core of Shea Langeliers, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, and Nick Kurtz are going to around to push this team to greater heights for years to come. The A’s are 12th in MLB in home runs (49), fifth in team batting average (.252), sixth in slugging percentage (.406), ninth in OBP (.328), sixth in OPS (.734).
Kurtz Hitting Superstar Status
That’s a running start for the Las Vegas team. Kurtz is already at superstar status – 36 home runs last year, winning Al Rookie of the Year. This season so far he is at a .275 batting average, 7 HRs, 26 RBIs and a .905 OPS (15th in the league). Wilson is an elite contact hitter. Butler adds speed and athleticism. Langeliers and Soderstrom bring power depth.
“Their young core should allow fans in Las Vegas to gravitate towards the club upon relocation,” said Ethan Useloff, Sports Trader, Fanatics Sportsbook. “Qualifying for the postseason will help their case, and the Athletics sit at +125 to make the playoffs.”
Said Eric Biggio, Head of Baseball at Caesars Sportsbook: “Definitely some more positivity from bettors surrounding the A’s, more action on their games, and more often than not, bettors are tailing them. Before the season started, there was a lot of action on Nick Kurtz to win the MVP, and for the leading Home Run hitter. While Kurtz hasn’t gotten off to the best start, Shea Langeliers has and has seen some interest for the same markets.”
At DraftKings this morning, the Athletics are +160 to make the playoffs. At Caesars Sportsbook, the team is at +158.
Move to Las Vegas in 2028
Plus, take a look at Spotrac – a lot of the young guys, including Soderstrom, Wilson, Lawrence Butler are signed to long-term deals, while Kurtz and Langeliers are arbitration eligible in 2028.
According to Mārtiņš Korulis, Sportsbook Trader at Tonybet, when it comes to betting in Canada, the Athletics have been drawing some attention, though they are not yet a top-tier betting team north of the border.
Since the start of the MLB season, they account for roughly 6% of all MLB bets at Tonybet Sportsbook. That is a meaningful share for a non-Canadian team, especially in a market where the Blue Jays naturally lead the way and make up around 13% of MLB betting activity.
“What stands out is that the interest is not just casual,” he said. “The A’s are attracting action across game markets, including moneyline, run line and totals, while there is also some early interest in player props. The player markets are still relatively small, but that could change if some of their younger players continue to develop and become part of the club’s Las Vegas identity.
Interesting Betting Story
From a trading perspective, a young and competitive team relocating to Las Vegas should have a stronger immediate betting impact than an expansion team starting from scratch. An expansion club needs time to build a roster, a fan base and betting habits,” said Korulis. “The Athletics would arrive with an existing MLB history, recognizable players and established betting markets. If they remain competitive by the time they move, the Las Vegas factor could make them a much more attractive betting team almost immediately.
“The A’s are not yet a major betting brand for us, but the signs are there. If the current on-field momentum carries into the Las Vegas move, they could become one of the more interesting MLB betting stories over the next few seasons.”
Caesars Sportsbook has the Oakland Athletics at +5000 to win the World Series today. For Biggio, it’s tough to say whether a good baseball team team transferring from another city would have a more sizeable betting impact than an expansion team starting from scratch.
“The (NHL’s) Golden Knights really caught lightning in a bottle when they started as an expansion team, and were successful right away, which has made them so popular in Vegas. That correlated to more betting action on them, especially within the first couple of years they were here,” he said.
Ultimately, though, Vegas wants to support and bet on a winning team, and if the A’s put out a fun, solid team on the field, I could only imagine them drawing betting interest regardless of whether they’re an expansion team or a team that moved from another city.”
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