John Fisher just dropped $29.25 million on a 10,094-square-foot palace in Las Vegas while asking taxpayers to help fund his baseball stadium. The Athletics owner bought the third-most expensive home in Vegas history, right behind Celine Dion’s $30 million mansion in the exclusive Summit Club. Meanwhile, his team is playing in a minor league park in Sacramento, waiting for their new home to rise from the ashes of the old Tropicana Las Vegas.
Why Are Taxpayers Funding John Fisher’s Stadium Dreams?
The timing of Fisher’s home purchase in late 2024 came as the Las Vegas stadium project moved forward. The ballpark will be partially funded by $380 million in state and county subsidies, with Fisher contributing $1.1 billion of his own money. This arrangement has drawn sharp criticism from fans and civic watchdogs who question why billionaire owners need public funding for their private ventures.
The controversy has sparked organized opposition. Schools Over Stadiums, a political action committee, has raised pointed questions about prioritizing stadium funding when local school funding is struggling in the Las Vegas area.
“Area man needs taxpayer dollars to fund his stadium, buys $29 million house”#SchoolsOverStadiums#SellTheTeam pic.twitter.com/4hqVEvIxsb
— Schools Over Stadiums (@EduOverStadiums) July 10, 2025
Despite the mounting criticism over public funding, Fisher’s path to requesting taxpayer help didn’t happen overnight. The roots of this controversy trace back to decades of failed stadium negotiations in Oakland.
How Did the Athletics End Up in This Mess?
Fisher’s journey to Las Vegas has been anything but smooth. The Athletics spent decades in the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, which eventually deteriorated into a foul-smelling concrete bowl. During his time in Oakland, Fisher spent years exploring potential stadium sites across the Bay Area, including locations in Fremont, San Jose, and the original Coliseum site.
The most promising option appeared to be Howard Terminal, where Fisher ultimately backed out of a potential $12 billion mixed-use development project in favor of nine acres on the Las Vegas Strip. This decision sparked intense fan backlash in Oakland.
Oakland supporters organized reverse boycotts, refusing to attend games in protest. When fans did show up, they would vehemently protest Fisher’s actions and his stewardship of the franchise. The anger reflected decades of frustration with ownership decisions that many felt prioritized profits over the team’s connection to its community.
Despite Schools Over Stadiums’ best efforts to block the deal, the Nevada legislature passed SB1. Governor Joe Lombardo signed the bill into law in June 2023, clearing the way for public funding of the project.
The financial details reveal the scope of the project. The stadium’s original $1.5 billion price tag has since risen to $1.75 billion. So far, the Athletics have contributed $40 million toward construction, roughly 27% more than Fisher paid for his new Las Vegas mansion. Of the $380 million in public funding approved through SB1, $350 million is earmarked specifically for stadium construction.
The new ballpark is scheduled to be completed in time for Opening Day 2028, when the Athletics will finally have a permanent home after their temporary stint in Sacramento’s minor league facility.