The Oakland Athletics' transition to Las Vegas has gained a new watchdog with serious credentials. Jason Frierson, who served as Nevada's first African-American U.S. attorney and spent a decade in the Nevada legislature, has been appointed chairman of the team's community benefits program board.
According to The Nevada Independent, Frierson will be tasked with ensuring the A's follow through on their financial commitments to Southern Nevada. The 55-year-old attorney brings a unique combination of federal prosecutorial experience and deep knowledge of Nevada politics to the oversight role.
Frierson is replacing former Nevada State University President DeRionne Pollard, who resigned from her position last month to become the first woman president of the American Association of Community Colleges. Pollard had been appointed to chair the community benefits board in March, despite having her contract renewed through August 2029.
Stronger Commitments Than Previous Sports Deals
The A's community benefits arrangement represents a significant departure from previous Las Vegas sports venue agreements. As reported by The Nevada Independent, unlike the Raiders' agreement which encourages but doesn't require charity, the A's deal specifically mandates contribution amounts. Senator Edgar Flores noted that "the community benefits program that was promised was not delivered" after the 2016 Raiders stadium deal.
The Athletics must contribute $500,000 annually in cash and in-kind contributions until a year after their first season, after which the commitment increases to whichever is larger—$2 million or 1 percent of ticket sales revenue. These requirements were outlined in the 2023 public financing legislation that provided $350 million in public funding for the team's ballpark.
Track Record of Independence
Frierson's appointment comes with built-in credibility for independence. Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that he served 10 years in the Nevada Assembly, including three sessions as speaker, but notably was not in office during the special legislative sessions that approved public financing for either Allegiant Stadium or the Athletics' ballpark. His legal career has spanned multiple roles focused on fairness in the justice system, including positions as a prosecutor with the attorney general's office, the Clark County public defender's office, and the county district attorney's office. He served as Nevada's U.S. attorney from April 2022 until resigning in January when the Trump administration took office.
Early Community Engagement
The A's have already begun demonstrating their commitment to Southern Nevada. The Nevada Independent shared that team President Marc Badain stated the organization has provided financial contributions to every Nevada youth baseball and softball team for three years, sponsored more than 40 events in 2025, and supported over 140 organizations through financial and in-kind contributions. The broader community benefits package also includes ambitious workforce diversity goals, requiring 51 percent of stadium construction workers to be women, minorities, veterans and disabled workers, while mandating the A's contract 15 percent of all stadium work to small locally owned businesses.
As Frierson begins his new role overseeing these commitments, he acknowledges the learning curve ahead. "This is the beginning of a process of learning the details about what's expected of the committee and specifically of the chair," he told The Nevada Independent. "It's exciting to be on that part of the equation, helping make sure that the organization sticks to their commitment and that the community knows what the team is doing."
