The Athletics, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), and HNTB have unveiled the design for the A’s new Las Vegas ballpark at the Tropicana. BIG will be the design lead, with HNTB as the sports/hospitality designer and architect of record.
“The collaboration between BIG’s creativity and HNTB’s technical expertise allows for a truly innovative and bold design while ensuring an unmatched fan experience,” said Athletics Managing Partner and Owner John Fisher. “We hope to add to the dynamic atmosphere and liveliness of the Las Vegas Strip, creating a welcoming environment for all of Southern Nevada.”
The ballpark is currently planned to include an 18,000-square-foot jumbotron, making it the largest screen in MLB
The 33,000-person ballpark, shaped by its location on the Las Vegas Strip, offers an outdoor feel with views of the city skyline. The tiered design will divide upper and lower seating bowls, bringing fans closer to the action than traditional ballparks and ensuring clear sight lines from every seat.
The roof’s five overlapping layers, inspired by traditional baseball pennants, open to the north, allowing natural light and views up the Strip while blocking direct sunlight and heat from the south. The outfield includes the world’s largest cable-net glass window, which faces the corner of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevards.
The ballpark is currently planned to include an 18,000-square-foot jumbotron, making it the largest screen in MLB.
“Our design for the new Vegas home for the A’s is conceived in response to the unique culture and climate of the city,’” said Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director of BIG. “Five pennant arches enclose the ballpark – shading from the Nevada sun while opening to the soft daylight from the north. A giant window frames a majestic view of the life of the Strip and the iconic New York hotel skyline. All direct sunlight is blocked, while all the soft daylight is allowed to wash the field in natural light.
The resultant architecture is like a spherical armadillo
“The resultant architecture is like a spherical armadillo – shaped by the local climate – while opening and inviting the life of the Strip to enter and explore. In the city of spectacle, the A’s ‘armadillo’ is designed for passive shading and natural light – the architectural response to the Nevada climate generating a new kind of vernacular icon in Vegas.”
The ballpark will take up nine of the Tropicana’s 35 acres. Bally’s and GLPI are working on a master plan for a related resort project. The specifics of that process, including towers, locations, and phases, will be decided in the coming months.
“We are excited to continue to collaborate with Bally’s and GLPI on this project. Together, we see a unique opportunity for this site and look forward to seeing this vision come to life,” said Fisher.
“The A’s have created a remarkable design that adds to the rich fabric of must-see attractions in Las Vegas,” said Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim. “This is a once-in-a-generation project, and we are thrilled for the opportunity to develop a comprehensive site plan at this iconic location. We look forward to sharing more on our plan in due course.”
The ballpark plan allows for up to 2,500 on-site parking spaces, as well as a two- to three-acre plaza that begins in the northwest corner of the site and extends to the main concourse. The overall parking strategy will be developed in collaboration with Bally’s and GLPI. The A’s are also collaborating with Clark County and NDOT on traffic and transportation plans to ensure easy access to the stadium, as well as with the Regional Transportation Commission on additional services like the express bus service that is currently provided for T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium. Not only will this reduce congestion, but it will also reduce emissions.