A’s Find First Investor in Las Vegas Ballpark

The first minority stakeholder in MLB has been revealed by the Athletics.  The concessionaire from Philadelphia, Aramark Sports + Entertainment, was named in May to operate all food and hospitality at the Las Vegas ballpark that the franchise claims will open on the Las Vegas Strip.

Aramark, which was also the concessionaire for the A's previous home, the Oakland Coliseum, has contributed $100 million to the team in addition to a $75 million capital expenditure contribution, according to the Sports Business Journal, though the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

In a press release, the A's and Aramark announced the investment and selected restaurateur and best-selling author Will Guidara as the stadium's culinary and hospitality programs supervisor.

“This partnership reflects our belief that great hospitality should be at the heart of the fan experience,” A’s President Marc Badain said in the release. “With Aramark’s culinary expertise and Will’s visionary approach, we’re not just building a ballpark, we’re creating a destination that captures the creativity and energy of the Las Vegas community.”

As the cost of the Las Vegas stadium continues to rise, Aramark has made an investment in the A's.  The cost of the venue, which was once projected to be $1.5 billion, is now "up in the $2 billion range," team owner John Fisher told the Nevada Independent last week.

Although Fisher, whose personal wealth is estimated by Forbes to be $2.9 billion, has simply stated that he is good for any shortfall, he has been looking for investors to buy at least $550 million worth of A's stock at what is seen as an exaggerated $2 billion valuation.

Following Aramark's contribution, Fisher would still have $375 million left over from his initial investment plan.  The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Fisher is presently in talks with parties that have indicated interest in investing $70 million, including a former MLB pitcher and a member of the K-Pop (Korean pop) group BTS.

The 2028 MLB season is when the A's anticipate playing in the 9-acre ballpark.