The first steel roof truss was installed early Monday at the Athletics’ Las Vegas ballpark. This marks a major milestone on the $2 billion project.
The huge truss, weighing about 200 tons, was attached to a support on the east side of the stadium. Meanwhile, other truss pieces will be attached to a support on the opposite side. Together, the pieces will form one arch over the stadium’s playing field, directly above the new ballpark area.
The June 1 milestone had been scheduled for months, and meeting it required significant effort, according to A’s President Marc Badain. Indeed, making progress at the ballpark on this timeline demonstrates excellent planning.
There are six buttresses around the perimeter of the ballpark providing anchors for the stadium’s roof structure.
Plans for the Staduim
The trusses will not be fully stretched between supports right away. They will be put together in steps, held up by temporary towers inside the stadium until ballpark installation is finished. Most weigh between 150 and 200 tons, with the biggest reaching 500 tons.
Once the roof structure is complete, the shoring towers will be removed from the ballpark site itself.
Trusses are put together on the ground and lifted into place by cranes inside and outside the ballpark. Workers hang from harnesses to install trusses not directly attached to a support. Moreover, the inside crane can lift up to 1,200 tons. The two outside cranes can each lift up to 600 tons, perfect for the unique construction demands of a ballpark this size.
As truss installation moves forward, the stadium’s height will stand out more. Eventually, it will reach about 290 feet above the playing field. This will give the ballpark a striking profile and make it about as tall as the MGM Grand across Tropicana Avenue.
Ballpark Future
Additional truss installations, following the same process as Monday’s, will occur over the next four to five months, according to Badain. In particular, the ballpark’s phased construction will allow for efficient project management.
Besides the roof truss work, crews have been working on steel structures since March 4 to build seating areas, including the third and fourth levels. Steel now covers more than half of the spaces planned for seats and suites. This increases the excitement around the progress of the ballpark.
A second truss was attached to the initial truss on Monday, while several other construction activities continued across the 9-acre ballpark site.
The A’s new ballpark remains on budget and on schedule for completion on February 29, 2028.
Eric Butler is a Contributor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on Instagram and X via @ReportandOpine
