The Athletics have retained an investment banking firm in an effort to procure $500 million in private funding towards the construction of their Las Vegas ballpark, according to a report.

The club is prepared to offer minority ownership shares in the franchise to potential investors as they put together financing for their estimated $1.5 billion stadium.

Nevada lawmakers approved $380 million in public funding last summer — taking the form of state tax credits, county-issued bonds and a county credit — to offset a chunk of the cost.

The Athletics will spend the next three seasons playing at a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento before their planned move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season.

The team announced Thursday that it would play at Sutter Health Park -- the home of the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate -- for the 2025 to 2027 seasons. The agreement includes an option year to play in Sacramento in 2028, should their new stadium in Las Vegas not be ready by then.

The Athletics appear close to cutting ties with Oakland after 56 years and making a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento their interim home.

The A's are expected to make Las Vegas their home for the 2028 season.

The team met with Sacramento officials Wednesday.

According to a report by radio personality Dave Weiglein of Sactown Sports, the team will announce its decision to relocate either Thursday or Friday.

The A's will share Sutter Health Park with the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A team, the RiverCats, for up to three seasons beginning next season. 

The Oakland Athletics met with officials from Oakland and Alameda County on Tuesday to discuss the city's most recent offer to keep team, bound for Las Vegas, in the Coliseum at least through the 2027 season.

The negotiations did not produce a resolution, and the A's are expected to meet with Sacramento officials Wednesday to hear their proposal to be the team's home for a minimum of three seasons beginning next year.

"Oakland made a fair and reasonable offer to the A's," Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said in a statement. "We await their response and look forward to continuing discussions as necessary."