A’s brass has been conspicuously absent from the spotlight during the franchise’s 11th-hour push to get a stadium deal done in Las Vegas.
Owner John Fisher is yet to speak publicly about the matter, while team president Dave Kaval finally stepped to the mic on Wednesday. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has called for a special session for state lawmakers to consider the ballpark proposal – rebranded as Senate Bill 1 (SB1) – which failed to advance past its initial hearing on Memorial Day.
Fisher is trying to ram a deal through before Nevada legislators go home, as their normal 120-day session ended on Monday. If the A’s don’t have a deal done by Jan. 15, 2024, they’ll be removed from MLB’s revenue-sharing policy, so they feel immense pressure to get something finalized this week.
During Wednesday’s special session, Kaval was called down from the gallery to answer some pointed questions from Sen. Fabian Doñate, who asked him point blank if the A’s would pay their Live Entertainment Tax – i.e. let Nevada collect on ticket sales instead of the A’s being exempt. Kaval squirmed as he dodged the question, and it was a bad look for the A’s, who appear to be grasping for as many handouts as possible.
Later in the marathon meeting, which stretched nearly nine hours from 3 p.m. PT to midnight, a former A’s senior executive named Steve Pastorino ripped Kaval a new one.
“I worked for Dave Kaval and two desks over from (A’s VP of PR) Catherine Aker,” Pastorino said. “There are so many holes in what the A’s are trying to sell us, I can’t cover it in two minutes. First of all, the walking, talking bobblehead known as Dave Kaval, can’t even answer Sen. Doñate’s questions today about the A’s participating in the Live Entertainment Tax. You can not trust Dave Kaval.”
Doñate tried to call Kaval up to the stand a second time, but he either had left the meeting or was unwilling to speak. The damage was done for the A’s brass, as Kaval looked lost trying to wiggle out of a tough situation. That’s the only taste of accountability from Fisher or Kaval so far.
The senate and assembly will reconvene Thursday to continue to special session, as the A’s try to push home a deal before running dry in the desert.
