Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred took a little field trip to check out the Athletics’ temporary space at a minor league park in West Sacramento, and guess what? He found it charming. Shocker, we know. But hold on to your foam fingers, because our beloved A’s are still looking to pack their bags and take a one-way ticket to Las Vegas by 2028.

During his recent jaunt, Manfred got to explore the 14,000-seat home of the Triple-A River Cats and approved of the efforts to give players a major league vibe. You could almost sense the excitement in his voice when he said, “It was a really positive day”. Keep that positive energy flowing while we prepare for the inevitable farewell.

For the uninitiated, the A’s have been hanging their hats at the Oakland Coliseum since 1968, but they decided to bolt after last season. Who can blame them? With swanky new hockey and football franchises popping up all over Las Vegas, it’s like FOMO at the ballpark. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority gave the thumbs up for a shiny, new $1.75 billion stadium right on the Strip, and even 380 million public dollars are being tossed into the mix like candy at Halloween.

Manfred assures us that despite any curveballs, the timeline is still on track for a 2028 debut. He said, “I don’t think the timeline has changed,” which is pretty great, because there’s nothing like a little bit of optimism in sports.

As for the cash flow, Interim A’s team president Sandy Dean dropped some interesting figures. Owner John Fisher has upped his financial commitment to $1.1 billion, and with big names like U.S. Bank and Goldman Sachs ready to throw in a $300 million loan, we can expect those investors in Vegas to be licking their chops.

In other news, the Tampa Bay Rays are also experiencing a temporary eviction, thanks to hurricane damage. They’re slumming it in the New York Yankees’ spring training haven, Steinbrenner Field. Nice to see the Rays getting a taste of that NY glam, even if it’s on borrowed time.

As for attendance, baseball is feeling a resurgence. Last season, crowds averaged 29,373 fans, the best turnout since 2017. Manfred is optimistic that 2025 will be even better. So let’s all raise a glass to the displacement of franchises, the rising costs of attending games, and our dwindling hope of ever seeing the A’s back in Oakland. Vegas, baby, we know you’ll welcome them, after all, what’s a little capitalism among friends? It’s all part of the charm.