The US Patent and Trademark Office has denied the Oakland Athletics' request to trademark 'Las Vegas Athletics' and 'Vegas Athletics' ahead of their planned move to Nevada. The office cited the term 'Athletics' as too generic and geographically descriptive. The team has options to refile or appeal the decision.
The Athletics baseball franchise, preparing for its relocation to Las Vegas, encountered a setback when the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) refused its trademark applications for 'Las Vegas Athletics' and 'Vegas Athletics' on December 29, 2025. The refusals, which are non-final, argue that 'Athletics' merely describes the purpose of the team's goods and services and is primarily geographically descriptive when combined with 'Las Vegas.' This could complicate the franchise's efforts to protect its branding against knock-off merchandise and unauthorized uses.
The team, established in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics, has a history of relocations, moving to Kansas City in 1955 and Oakland in 1968. After failing to secure a new stadium deal in Oakland, the Athletics received MLB approval for the Las Vegas move in 2023 and left Oakland following the 2024 season. They are currently playing their home games in a temporary Triple-A venue in West Sacramento, California, using simply 'Athletics' as their name.
A $2 billion, 33,000-seat stadium on the Las Vegas Strip is under construction and on track to open for the 2028 season, with Nevada and Clark County providing up to $380 million in public funding. Owner John Fisher is seeking additional investors to cover the remaining costs. The Tropicana casino and hotel site has already been demolished to make way for the ballpark.
Despite previous successful trademarks for 'Oakland Athletics' and 'Kansas City Athletics,' the USPTO evaluates each application independently, requiring substantial evidence of acquired distinctiveness—which the team lacks without yet operating under the new name. Trademark attorney Josh Gerben described the situation as 'unusual, borderline odd' for an MLB franchise, noting the challenge of providing marketplace evidence like sales figures or media recognition before the move. The Athletics have three months from the refusal date to request an extension and refile within six months.
In other developments, the team recently signed left fielder Tyler Soderstrom to an $86 million, seven-year contract on December 30, 2025—the richest in franchise history—and acquired second baseman Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets on December 22. Last offseason, they agreed to deals with designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker ($60 million over five years) and outfielder Lawrence Butler ($65.5 million over seven years). Manager Mark Kotsay's contract was extended through 2028, with a club option for 2029.
