LAS VEGAS (AP) \u2014 The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has for now denied the A\u2019s request to trademark the names \u201cLas Vegas Athletics\u201d and \u201cVegas Athletics.\u201d<\/p>\n
The club, which intends to move to Nevada in 2028<\/a>, has three months from when the refusals were issued Dec. 29 to ask for an extension to file a new application within a six-month period.<\/p>\n The A\u2019s were told the nickname \u201cAthletics\u201d was too generic and could be confused with other activities even if associated with Las Vegas.<\/p>\n That, however, has been the club\u2019s nickname since the Philadelphia Athletics began playing in 1901. The A\u2019s kept the nickname when they moved to Kansas City in 1955 and Oakland in 1968.<\/p>\n The Patent and Trademark Office denied the NHL\u2019s Utah team<\/a> to use the nickname \u201cYetis\u201d on Jan. 9 because of potential confusion with companies such as Yeti Coolers. Utah, which moved from the Phoenix area in 2024, now uses the nickname \u201cMammoth.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n The A\u2019s relocated to West Sacramento, California, last year to play the first of three planned seasons in the city\u2019s Triple-A ballpark. The team is going solely by \u201cAthletics\u201d while playing in the Northern California city.<\/p>\n A $2 billion, 33,000-capacity stadium on the Las Vegas Strip is under construction. Club officials told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority on Dec. 4 that the ballpark is on schedule to open in time for the 2028 season.<\/p>\n Nevada and Clark County have approved up to $380 million in public funds for the ballpark, and the A\u2019s have said they will cover the remaining expenses. Owner John Fisher has been seeking investors to assist in the funding.<\/p>\n In preparing for the move to Las Vegas, the A\u2019s have signed some notable contracts. The most recent was an $86 million, seven-year deal<\/a> for left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, the richest in team history. Soderstrom signed his contract<\/a> Dec. 30 at the A\u2019s Experience Center in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n The A\u2019s acquired second baseman Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets<\/a> on Dec. 22.<\/p>\n Going back to last offseason, the A\u2019s also reached agreements on a $60 million, five-year contract with designated hitter\/outfielder Brent Rooker<\/a> and a $65.5 million, seven-year deal with outfielder Lawrence Butler<\/a>. Manager Mark Kotsay signed an extension<\/a> that takes him through 2028 with a club option for 2029.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n