Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said he was optimistic three key documents needed to begin construction on a new stadium for the Athletics would be approved Dec. 5.

“We’re rounding third and heading for home,” Hill said after Thursday’s Las Vegas Stadium Authority board meeting.

Hill and the LVCVA were so hopeful the approvals would come at that December meeting that three others were canceled. The board will next meet Oct. 17, and a meeting has been set aside for Dec. 12 as a “safety valve.”

The three documents that need to be approved for the planned $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat domed stadium on the Las Vegas Strip are the lease, non-relocation and development agreements. The lease agreement was presented Thursday without a vote.

The A’s have said they expected to spend $350 million in public money rather than the $380 million allocated by the Nevada Legislature.

The club has said it plans to finance $300 million of the stadium cost and the other $850 million would come from private equity. Hill said it’s possible the A’s could present their financing plan at the October meeting.

College swimming

irish suspends team after gambling probe >> Notre Dame suspended its men’s swimming program for at least one year after an external review found members of the team violated NCAA rules by wagering among themselves on results of their competitions and failed to “treat one another with dignity and respect.”

Members of the team had set up a makeshift, internal sportsbook where athletes could wager on the times of themselves or teammates at meets. Athletes were not found to have bet on opposing teams or on any other Notre Dame athletic events, the person said.

College football

Rashada amends NIL lawsuit >> Attorneys for former Florida recruit Jaden Rashada from Pittsburg filed an amended complaint detailing an alleged meeting that spurred an ill-fated $13.85 million name, image and likeness deal.

On Tuesday, a U.S. District Court judge in Pensacola denied motions to dismiss Rashada’s $10 million lawsuit against coach Billy Napier, mega-booster Hugh Hathcock and former NIL director Marcus Castro-Walker, court records show.

The updated suit claims the former Pittsburg High star met Hathcock when he was dropping off his Lamborghini for a photoshoot at UF in June of 2022. Castro-Walker allegedly told Rashada’s father, Harlen, “you didn’t see him,” referring to Hathcock in order to dismiss the “forbidden yet undeniable affiliation between Hathcock and UF’s football program.”

NFL

Falcons, Simmons agree to deal >> Former Broncos safety Justin Simmons agreed on an $8 million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons, according to reports.

Simmons is the second major addition the Falcons have made to bolster their defense in two days. The team acquired four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher from Matthew Judon from New England for a third-round pick.

Bills linebacker Milano out indefinitely >> Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott announced that linebacker Matt Milano is out indefinitely and will miss at least the first few months of the season with a torn left bicep in what becomes the starter’s latest setback after missing a majority of last season with a broken leg.

Golf

Matsuyama surprises in PGA postseason opener >> Hideki Matsuyama lost his wallet in London and lost his caddie and coach for the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs from thieves who snatched their bag. None of that seemed to bother the Japanese star to start of the PGA Tour’s postseason she shot a 65 in the FedEx-St. Jude Championship in Memphis.

Chris Kirk made a hole-in-one on his way to a 6-under 64 for a one-shot lead.

Lee leads rain-delayed Women’s Scottish Open >> Two-time major champion Minjee Lee of Australia shot a 5-under 67 for a one-shot lead in the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open before play was stopped for the day.