The Nevada Supreme Court struck down a proposed ballot initiative on Monday, May 13, allowing voters to decide on repealing the public funding approved last year for a new Major League Baseball stadium in Las Vegas.
The ruling is a setback for opponents of the funding, who viewed the ballot initiative as the most effective means to overturn critical parts of the legislation that facilitated the Oakland Athletics’ relocation to Las Vegas. The court’s decision saw five judges affirm a lower court’s ruling invalidating the referendum, with one judge dissenting and another concurring in part and dissenting in part.
Following the ruling, Alexander Marks, spokesperson for the Schools over Stadiums political action committee, announced that their efforts would now focus on placing the question on the 2026 ballot. The PAC, supported by the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA,) has consistently opposed using public funds for the stadium.
The debate over stadium financing in Nevada reflects a broader national controversy regarding using public money to finance sports venues.
Proponents, including representatives of the Athletics and some Nevada tourism officials, argue that public funding could bolster Las Vegas’ burgeoning sports scene and serve as an economic driver. However, many stadium economists, educators, and lawmakers contend that the benefits would be minimal compared to the substantial public expenditure.
The Supreme Court ruled the entire 66-page bill has to be in the ballot question to provide proper context. However, state law limits ballot referendums to 200 words, a restriction that Schools over Stadiums lawyers acknowledged made it challenging to convey the bill’s complexities. Meanwhile, the court found the 200-word description submitted by Schools over Stadiums to be “misleading” and insufficient in explaining the practical effects of the referendum.
Attorney Bradley Schrager, representing two labor union lobbyists supporting the public funding, emphasized the importance of adhering to laws that ensure voters are fully informed about proposals.
“All Nevadans have a right to participate in direct democracy, but they need to observe the laws that require properly informing the voters of a proposal. This measure obviously fails to do that,” Schrager stated.
Meanwhile, Major League Baseball owners have unanimously approved the Athletics’ move to Las Vegas, cementing the city’s growing status as an up-and-coming sports hub.
The Old Blog in the Desert 
Leave a comment