I suppose this might be the most “appropriate” (for lack of a better term) ad patch in MLB. The Athletics (whose official name is just “The Athletics” for now) have signed a three-year deal with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority which makes the LVCVA the team’s “Official Travel Destination Partner.” More importantly, the deal will see the LVCVA’s “Las Vegas” logo adorn the team’s jersey sleeves for at least the 2025 season.
It’s all in the details. pic.twitter.com/0woWE4kMDz
— Athletics (@Athletics) March 8, 2025
And yes, this is an ad patch. Contrary to popular belief (or at least my belief prior to this announcement), the LVCVA’s logo frequently featured in tourism ads is not an official mark of the City of Las Vegas or the State of Nevada (though the city did adopt a similar logo in 2016).
The A’s are going to be pretty patched-up for 2025, as the team has added a patch celebrating their temporary home, depicting Sacramento’s Tower Bridge, and has also added a Rickey Henderson No. 24 memorial patch. The A’s posted a hype video promoting the patch on social media. The video’s really just an ad for Las Vegas; I’m sure the LVCVA had a hand in its direction. The Tower Bridge patch makes only a fleeting appearance, and the Rickey memorial patch was nowhere to be found.
It’s not just a patch, it’s a promise. Las Vegas, we’re coming. pic.twitter.com/pbNBEpSyTf
— Athletics (@Athletics) March 8, 2025
As I noted in my coverage of the Tower Bridge patch back in January, the A’s were one of the last teams in MLB not to have an ad patch, though as I noted then, I doubt that was for ethical reasons and was instead because no brand wanted to advertise on the jerseys of a team that was actively at war with its own fanbase.
It’s also, in my view, kind of bizarre that the A’s are advertising Las Vegas on their uniforms while also celebrating Sacramento. Of course, this whole situation is bizarre — John Fisher’s transparent attempts to move the team out of Oakland, the doomed attempt by the fans to force Fisher to sell, the interim relocation to a Triple-A stadium in Sacramento for at least three years while they try to get a stadium built in Vegas — it all just seems…bush league. Slimy. Farcical. The fact that the A’s still have comments turned off on all of their posts on the platform formerly known as Twitter just underscores that. Not to mention that the Rickey Henderson memorial patch was nowhere to be seen in their flashy ad patch reveal video is somewhat concerning. I’m sure the patch will be there (likely double-stacked on top of the Tower Bridge patch) on Opening Day, and it also seems smaller than other memorial patches, but would anyone really put it past this organization to forget to actually apply the Rickey Henderson memorial patch? Everything from the Fisher ownership smacks of not only avarice, but a total disregard for the A’s place in history.
Ugh. Sorry about that. Everything about this whole situation just gets my back up.
The Las Vegas ad patches will make their on-field debut on Opening Day when the A’s take on the Mariners in Seattle.
Could it be that the Rickey patch moves to the chest to make way for the ad patch? It would be less cluttered.
Cheap ass patch looks like a sticker from a gumball machine.
I really feel terrible for A’s fans.
As a former Oiler fan, I know what it feels like to have your team taken from you. The way this whole thing has progressed has been even worse. Just taking a franchise so many people have loved for generations and treating it like a joke. I hate it. Sorry, y’all.
Well, if the Rays get an ad patch for Walt Disney World soon, we know what’s coming.
“Visiter Montréal!”
Omaha Steaks
This feels like when Michael Scott pasted his face over his GF’s ex-husband in their family picture
There is one thing I feel good about. Based on seeing the renderings of the new planned stadium and the video on Twitter. Appears they are keeping the Athletics name and identity? I’ve had real concerns the move to Las Vegas would involve them changing the name and colour scheme.
I’ve never had a doubt that they would still be the Athletics upon moving to Las Vegas, whenever that may be. They’ve carried that moniker through 4 cities (so far) and I don’t see them changing. Their green and yellow color scheme is unique to baseball and they should definitely keep it, although I could see them using metallic gold trim/outlining somewhere on the uni to make it more Vegas-y.
The vast majority of us living in Vegas would prefer a Brand change and the A’s identity to remain in northern California. In fact most of us would prefer an expansion team and a different site for the stadium.
Two thoughts – I give credit when the add patch blends into the uniform and not some obnoxious color or size to take away from the uniform.
I think some articles point out. Sacramento is a “temporary” stay. They will be moving to Las Vegas and getting in front of brand recognition is almost a double entendre with this ad sell. I think it’s clever and for people who are not “all things baseball” will be brought into the conversation about the future home of the A’s.
When the Sacramento patch was revealed it was shown being on the left sleeve. Now this Las Vegas patch is shown as also being on the left sleeve. I’m assuming the LV patch will be on the players “dominant” sleeves. But wait, the Rickey patch (apparently about the size of a quarter) was also shown as being on the left sleeve! This team has a lot of ‘splainin’ to do! So now my take is the LV patch will be on the dominant sleeve, the Sacramento patch on the other sleeve and the Rickey patch goes to the chest.
It would make the most sense to have the Rickey patch on the chest.
Therefore I’m sure they’ll try to double-decker it with the Sacto patch. And agreed the ad will be on the dominant arm.
No MLB team has moved more that the A’s, although Braves are close. Went to Oakland last year and that stadium was 3rd world. And the city has lost 3 sports teams in 3 years. That says a lot
People forget that Oakland also had an NHL team as well, with the California-Oakland-Bay Area Seals/California Golden Seals. They had a team in all four major professional sport leagues in North America at one point.
However, Oakland is also the first city to go from being a four big league sports town to a no major league sports town, ever.
Now that I look at what I just said, it really seems like I just kicked Oakland around while it is down.
It’s not really the first though, Oakland isn’t so much a city on its own as an older edge city that has always been very tied to the rest of the SF metropolitan area. It’s no different than saying Anaheim lost the NFL when the rams moved, but no-one does that, they say LA lost the NFL because both teams moved.
The Giants play 15 minutes away so it’s not like there isn’t an MLB team right there. I don’t think Oakland lost anything: a second team that played in a smaller secondary city in a metropolitan area is moving to a larger city of their own be that Sac or Vegas. Oakland still has the giants just like Philly still has the Phillies since the A’s left there.
You’re not getting from Oakland to Oracle park in 15 minutes unless you’re taking a helicopter.
Kinda feels like you’re just starting a new relationship with someone and already picked out where to hold the wedding with another…..
Sacramento is not a “relationship” they are just friend zones and know it. They get a short term benefit and go back to being an AAA city.
Did nobody tell this Las Vegas group that’s so interested in stealing the A’s from their fanbase that the team’s colors are green and *gold*? Gawd, everything about this whole Fisher enterprise is cheap, including their allies.
Nobody is stealing the A’s. Oakland lost them on there own. Most Vegas/Clark County residents want nothing to do with the A’s. We would prefer an Expansion franchise or at least a total rebranding. The State/county isn’t putting a huge wad of cash in… just over 300 million far less than most public contributions from other cities.
This seems forced and couple years too early. I think it would have been better to add this patch the third and final year in Sacramento.
Disgusting
Typical Jihn Fisher and Rob Manfred degradation of the game and legacy of a historic franchise.
Hoping it never comes to fruition
Speaking of ad hating, the ads on this site have gotten out of control.
Open your wallet, then, and become a member. It’s affordable, you will be donating to an effort you are currently receiving for free (though it actuall is NOT free to produce) and you won’t be bothered by those pesky ads.
Use Brave.
If the Cleveland Indians in Major League had a Boca Raton patch, this is the real life version
And every MLB owners was complicit. I think Manfreid has done some good fornthe game but the way he treated Oakland was despicable and has soured baseball for me.
Yes, I was an As fan. But I also think baseball is a wonderful game.
It would be odd if they put on a “Visit Oakland” patch. Why not get your future home advertising on your uni’s?
The crazy part is that they haven’t announced the terms… hmmm. It seems like a underhanded way to give more public money to the A’s…. but what do I know.
Might as well just start calling them the Las Vegas A’s since, with this patch, they are visually the Las Vegas A’s.