The Athletics are betting big on Las Vegas — but their preferred name might not be in the cards.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has once again denied the team’s request to trademark “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics” ahead of their planned 2028 relocation, according to multiple reports.
In a recently released filing, the USPTO argued that the term “Athletics” is too generic, could easily be confused with other uses and lacks “acquired distinctiveness” to warrant trademark protection.
“ATHLETICS means activities such as sports, exercises and games that require physical skill and stamina … therefore the prior registration does not support applicant’s claim of acquired distinctiveness and the claim is not accepted,” the document reads, according to The Athletic.
Despite the franchise name dating back to 1901, when the team was based in Philadelphia, the USPTO further said prior registrations “do not support applicant’s claim of acquired distinctiveness because they are not the same marks.”
The Athletics left Oakland Coliseum after the 2024 season, and Oakland was promptly dropped from the team name as the club prepared for an eventual move to Las Vegas in 2028.
Though ground has been broken on the team’s planned $1.75 billion stadium, the A’s played their games this past season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento — home of the Triple-A River Cats, an affiliate of the Giants.
The move drew heavy criticism, including from the team’s own players. Luis Severino — who signed a $67 million deal last offseason — blasted the experience of playing in a minor league park.
“It feels like a spring training kind of game every time I pitch, and every time other guys pitch,” Severino said. “It’s the same mentality we have, to go out there and try to do our best. But it’s not been great for us.”
Despite frustrations and a disappointing 2025 season, the organization has shelled out several long-term deals as it eyes the Vegas era.
In addition to Severino, the A’s extended All-Star slugger Brent Rooker for $60 million and later inked budding star Lawrence Butler to a $66.5 million extension.
This offseason, they signed Tyler Soderstrom to a franchise-record $86 million deal and traded for former Mets All-Star Jeff McNeil.
The team’s nucleus of youngsters includes 2025 American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz.
It’s expected that the organization will reapply for the trademark again in the future, and could have a better case if and when it does officially relocate.
