The planned Bally’s Las Vegas resort is not expected to be completed in time for the debut of the Athletics’ new ballpark in 2028, according to company representatives and regulatory discussions in Nevada.
Bally’s executives have indicated that the company intends to prioritize infrastructure, retail and entertainment components around the stadium before moving forward with the casino resort portion of the project.
During a recent Nevada Gaming Control Board meeting, attorney Dan Reaser, who represents Bally’s, outlined the company’s phased development approach, reports KTNV.
“As part of Opening Day for the stadium, Bally’s has obligations to do a fair amount of infrastructure investment, which is parking garages, power systems, different utility, a plaza,” Reaser explained. “And so, that is the first job for Bally’s, to make sure on Opening Day, that’s all in place and operating.”
Casino development moves to later phases
Plans for the site have changed since Bally’s submitted a master plan to Clark County in October 2024. That proposal included three hotel towers, with the first tower scheduled for construction during Phase I.
Updated renderings and plans released in September 2025 reduced the project to two towers. In January, Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim said casino construction had been pushed into later phases of development.
“Of all the projects that we have in our portfolio, Vegas is the one with, sort of, the widest standard deviation of outcomes,” Kim said. “Vegas has that, sort of, risk factor. Our response to that risk factor was, ‘Hey, we’re going to build this slowly.'”
A Bally’s representative later confirmed that portions of the development will be ready for the stadium’s opening, though the casino resort is not expected to be among them.
“Regarding the build of Bally’s Las Vegas, there will be a podium that connects the Stadium to the Strip as well as a RED district around the Stadium at the Opening Day 2028, but it’s unlikely our casino portion of the project will be built by that time,” according to Bally’s representative.
Retail district planned ahead of resort
Company executives said Bally’s is targeting an earlier opening for the 500,000-square-foot Retail Entertainment District, or RED District.
Mira Mircheva, Bally’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said entitlement applications have already been submitted to Clark County.
“We have submitted entitlement applications with Clark County, and the company has been informed that these will be reviewed as soon as there is approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, as we are located close to the airport,” said Mircheva.
“In the meantime, [we’re] continuing to develop plans for the project and for the retail and entertainment and dining space, which is really kind of phase one of the project. The podium design is progressing, and we’re in active negotiations with potential tenants for retail, entertainment, and restaurant venues,” Mircheva added.
FAA review process continues
The project remains subject to Federal Aviation Administration review because of its proximity to the airport. FAA records indicate that plans for the hotel towers and a parking structure are currently under evaluation.
An FAA spokesperson said in a statement:
“Under federal law, developers must give the FAA the opportunity to evaluate proposed structures near airports to determine whether they could pose a hazard to aircraft or interfere with navigation aids.”
“If the FAA determines the structure height would be a presumed hazard, we try to negotiate a lower height with the developer. If the FAA determines the structure would interfere with navigation aids, we try to negotiate other mitigations with the developer. There is no set timeframe for the FAA’s reviews.
The FAA’s determination is a recommendation and is not binding. The FAA does not have the authority to limit building heights, and the decision to issue a building permit is up to the local government. Although the FAA does not issue or deny building permits, it encourages those with land use authority to consider the agency’s determinations in making zoning and permitting decisions.
Additionally, many local governments and states have laws that prohibit issuing building permits if the FAA determines a structure would pose a hazard to air navigation.”
Stadium authority monitors project timeline
Las Vegas officials continue to monitor Bally’s progress on the site.
Steve Hill, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and chairman of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, told The Athletic that “there’s time to build.” He also said the Stadium Authority has requested “pretty pointedly” that Bally’s have a plan in place by August.
According to Hill, the review of Bally’s parking structure plans could result in the Athletics constructing their own parking garage with reduced capacity. He estimated such a project could cost between $60 million and $100 million.
Hill also said the original concept included a northwest plaza connected to the ballpark through pedestrian bridges. The Athletics are now planning a temporary entrance and plaza.
Ballpark costs rise to $2.1 billion
Construction of the Athletics’ stadium continues to advance. This week, the team installed the first of six trusses that will form the roof structure enclosing the ballpark.
According to The Athletic, the projected cost of the stadium has increased to $2.1 billion.
The Nevada Legislature previously allocated $380 million in public funding for the project. The Athletics initially stated they would use $350 million of that amount, though project costs have continued to increase.
“I think there’s a pretty good chance [the A’s] will get the entire $380 million [in public funding],” Hill told The Athletic.