JULY 21: Against the A’s wishes, the Council approved the City’s tentative financial plan at yesterday’s meeting, albeit with an amendment that made clear the A’s would not be responsible for certain infrastructure improvements. (Ravani and Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times were among those to cover the news). Kaval and Manfred expressed disappointment with the decision, although the next steps for the team remain unclear. Schaaf told reporters this afternoon she remained optimistic about keeping the A’s in Oakland.
Scott Boras, agent for A’s star third baseman Matt Chapman, addressed the ongoing saga this week. Boras implied that any extension negotiations with Chapman would wait until the stadium situation was resolved, telling Matt Kawahara of the Chronicle that “we’re going to see them take care of their infrastructure first and then address the player element later, I think.”
JULY 18: The City of Oakland released a proposed financial plan regarding development of a potential new waterfront stadium for the Athletics on Friday, reports Sarah Ravani of the San Francisco Chronicle. The A’s are unhappy with the terms, which team president Dave Kaval called a “step backwards” in the disucssions.
The Oakland City Council is set to hold a non-binding vote on Tuesday regarding the A’s proposal for a $12 billion mixed-use development plan, which includes the stadium. A “yes” vote from the Council wouldn’t finalize any sort of development agreement or term sheet, but it would allow the City and team to continue talks regarding the potential construction of a waterfront stadium at Oakland’s Howard Terminal, which the A’s have previously claimed to be the last viable ballpark location in Oakland. A “no” vote from the Council might kill the project entirely, Ravani writes.
Kaval suggested that approval of the City’s Friday proposal would be tantamount to a rejection of the A’s plan. However, Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf pushed back against that characterization, saying the City’s proposal moves the project forward and expressing optimism about the parties’ ability to close the gap.
Unsurprisingly, it seems the biggest issue involves the extent of infrastructure taxes to finance the project. While the A’s have pushed for two infrastructure tax districts in their proposals, the City’s terms have thus far excluded the creation of a second district that would cover much of Jack London Square. Indeed, that’s the main impetus for the A’s criticism of the most recent proposal, Kaval told Shayna Rubin of the San Jose Mercury News. However, Ravani writes that the two sides have seemed to make progress on other issues regarding affordable housing and the length of a potential non-relocation agreement.
The City Council’s vote next week will take place against the looming threat of a potential relocation of the franchise. The A’s have been looking into the possibility of relocation since May, with Las Vegas appearing to be the most likely destination if they don’t come to an agreement with Oakland. Speaking with reporters during All-Star festivities this week, commissioner Rob Manfred called Vegas one of multiple “viable alternatives” for the A’s if a new deal with Oakland isn’t ultimately finalized.
They gone
To New Orleans….
Probably harder to run a team in NO than in Oakland.
Saints seem to do pretty good in Crescent City. Plus it would get them closer to Rangers and Astros in AL West.
For 10 games. Try 81.
Not trying to be argumentative, but I think they would have better attendance in NO than in Oakland.
Their attendance is bad because their ballpark sucks out loud, with a new park in a decent area they’d be selling out every game
New Orleans really isn’t a viable option. They’ll have to play in the Superdome for at least a season or 2, and having watched baseball there, it doesn’t configure well. Also, I have my doubts that over an 81 game season, attendance would be well. And, a new stadium will have to be built, and that would have to be in the suburbs.
NO is a football town. Louisiana is a football state. (Obviously I could be wrong, I’m a fan making an educated guess, I’m sure there are experts who’ll figure this out better than I can).
NO couldn’t even support their minor league team who moved away a few years ago
Louisiana IS a football state and a COLLEGE baseball town. Baseball fans, like myself, would attend, but the attendance would probably be middle of the pack numbers, much like the Pelicans.
In all fairness, those were some bad baseball teams, even for AAA. The Superdome and Smootjie King center are right across the street from each other. Unless the team would play in the dome, they will have to build a stadium in the suburbs, and Louisiana summers can be unforgiving, and I can’t imagine that the state would allocate more than 25% of state money for it
I can’t disagree with you totally, but I’m from Louisiana, so I might be just a tad biased. Yes, the summers can be miserable outdoors, but, I still think if ownership put together a competitive team, the Cajuns would support the team very well. Longshot, I know, but I can always dream.
I’m in Baton Rouge, used to make about 10-15 AAA games a year, and agree that it would be a Longshot, but I don’t see it happening. I would love it if it did, but it would be a longshot.
I’m from north Louisiana….
GEAUX Tigers
Geaux Tigers!!
So would Vegas
Bull. They do pretty well drawing in the playoffs. No stadium issue in September/October I guess
I would love to see a team in new orleans but there are other options that would not have to deal with hurricane season.
Article I read early this morning said the city wants the team to play for a lot of infrastructure that has -0- to do with the stadium, parking.. Nothing at all, like low income housing and only “promising” to help pay back “some” of it later on from some future tax hike.
It all read like smoke and mirrors from some group of politicians thinking they hold every card in negotiations, when in fact they hold none. Article also said when the meeting was over, the team executives had let it be known it was a “bottom of the 9th” situation, yet city officials would not budge off of fantasy ideas and ideals.
If you are thinking that far East, why not go to Nashville?
Orlando.
God, no.
Absolutely Orlando. How many visitors visit the area plus hardcore fans that have moved from baseball towns up north. Would be a huge move. Also, owner of Magic has states his desire for a baseball team. Plenty of room in that area.
No way an MLB team goes to New Orleans
They couldn’t even keep a minor league team and the Pelicans are on their way out
San Antonio or Charlotte are putting together groups to bring MLB in, Las Vegas and Nashville both already have groups. Oklahoma City has been looking to add another major sport as has Indianapolis, there are plenty of other sites the A’s can go where a new stadium wouldn’t be a problem. I’m betting owners will go somewhere that has little or no state taxes
I agree. I know some A’s true fans would tell you they think the attendance is due to poor ballpark and the area it’s built on but I’m not so sure. The A’s despite being a low revenue team have put a consistent winner on the field and to me that should be enough to drive revenue. I see the same in Tampa. If you can’t put butts in the seat, sell merchandise, or at least have a large tv viewing with a consistent winner I’m not sure a stadium fixes that issue long term. I think if Oakland doesn’t want to risk another franchise loss they need to step up and make this deal happen their are plenty of viable options for relocation who’d put up the funds to help finance a stadium. I still have my doubts about Oakland with a stadium but without it they’re toast. You can call them greedy billionaires and I wouldn’t say you’re wrong but they didn’t become billionaires by making poor business decisions. If a viable city is willing to offer a large amount of funds to relocate and Oakland is playing hardball it’s essentially making the organizations decision for them. The city of Oakland needs to keep the A’s for city revenue and prestige as a large viable city for any possible business/economic growth. Not saying they have to completely cave and don’t think the organization expects that but clearly if they just go ahead with the cities proposal the A’s will be in another city.
seth3120:
“If you can’t put butts in the seat,…with a consistent winner I’m not sure a stadium fixes that issue long term.”
While I agree with much of your post, I disagree about that. The Giants are a good example. They used to draw only a few thousand for mid-week night games. You were almost guaranteed to get a batting practice ball, there were so few fans.
I could always get opening day tickets. It was easy to get tickets to the final night game and the final game for the ‘stick.
In 1997 the Giants won the division and drew 1,690,869. The last time the A’s won the division in a full season, 2013, they drew 1,809,302.
But once the Giants moved into their new stadium, tickets were difficult, opening day impossible. In 2007 they finished last in the division at 71-91. But they still drew 3,223,215.
Tampa has no draw to area except for the pro teams. While just two hrs away in Orlando MILLIONS of fans visit every year. It would be another venue to draw visitors and fans of visiting teams like Vegas
Seth, Article I read yesterday said A’s ownership was willing to fund the stadium, pay a % of parking infrastructure upgrades also. location of the stadium was a couple of places, 1 they were for and 1 against as it was all can remember in a violence plagued part of town.
Main problems from the meeting gathered from that story was city officials wanting the team paying for everything, like items nothing sports related as I posted yesterday in low income housing which has -0- to do with the A’s and no clear plans to repay them, then the city officials, like passing around a hat going to county and state officials looking for these same funds and for the same reasons, blaming it on the A’s who will be paying stadium costs themselves.
It rubbed me wrong and as typical lying politicians using any means to rob taxpayers when cash won’t be needed for said reason.
Be weird if they moved to Vegas, the A’s AAA team is there in a beautiful award winning stadium. Would the A’s just kick out their AAA team?
Get the one with grass on the roof, or no deal!!!!
That was the best stadium design I have ever seen, by a million miles.
Were there goats too?
I don’t think Vegas will build another stadium for another pro team.
Montreal?
San Jose keeps them in the Bay Area. The Bay Area is too large a market for only the Giants – there has to be 2 teams and should actually have 3.
It’s disgusting that San Jose, America’s 11th biggest city which hosts Silicon Valley, only has a class A team. MLB should have moved the A’s there in 2008, and they still should now. The Giants could take over the east bay like they already illegally have done – why has there always been a Giants store in Walnut Creek again???
Can’t – territory agreement in place
agreement. Lol
MLB needs to get involved rip it up
Wont happen The big issue is SF would have to waive there territory rights. They haved tried moving near there and the Giants told them they wont waive the rights.. Lots of tv rights and money involved.. I still think the best option is to relocate.. Oakland is turning into a shitt hole of a town.. Crime is much higher.. I think SF would rather see them leave California than workout a deal where they rewrite the territories to allow a move to San Jose.. I think Portland or Vegas are the top option for teams this keeps them on the west coast rather having to reallign the league if they move to Nashville or Montreal
Here’s an idea: territorial rights aren’t ethical and should be torn up. MLB can always override them, but good luck getting Manfred to ever do anything that requires guts.
That the Orioles/Nationals exist and dealt with the same bogus “rights” (what exactly are the “Rights” here, again?), really disproves the “territorial rights” argument. You cant “own” a bigger city than you. Completely nonsensical and absurdist.
A’sfaninUK:
The Balt./Wash. situation isn’t comparable. DC previously had a team, that was moved in a less than ethical manner. San Jose never had a ML team to replace.
Also, DC was a unique situation. The case was made that there should be a team in the nation’s capital. And there were numerous politicians threatening MLB’s anti-trust exemption if DC did not get a team.
There is none of that weight is behind an attempt to move the A’s to SJ.
Territory rights and rules absolutely need to be re-examined. Bad for the sport.
The interesting thing about those territorial rights.
Oakland and SF were each 50% right holders for the South Bay Area – think Fremont to San Jose and through Mountain View.
The Haas family being the owners of the A’s and being one of the best franchise owners in history – loaned their 50% market rights to the Giants – Peter McGowans ownership group. – why you ask? The Giants needed more equity to secure loans in order to build a new ballpark in SF and not move to Tampa
The Haas family wanted the Giants to stay in the bay and helped make that happen. The rights were to be returned after the stadium was complete.
Well the Haas family sold the A’s – and the new goof ball owners never asked for the rights back – and Giants ownership changed and the new Giants ownership group doesn’t want to give up their “100%” rights to the south bay
I’m a Giants fan – and it’s shame the A’s ownership group are such dicks – but you would think the Giants could help out here -the proposed site in Fremont made so much sense …….
“Crime is much higher…” based on what, exactly? Where is your data?
Here: abc7news.com/amp/oakland-crime-rates-reallocates-1…
Every city is seeing a spike in crimes, not just Oakland.
correct
Get over the A’s to San Jose thing. It can’t happen, it won’t happen, and continuing to suggest it is futile. Saying the A’s should be in SJ is like the Russians continually harping on why they should never have sold Alaska to the U.S. It’s over, and done.
Talk of SJ is useless. It’s Howard Terminal, or some other city, other than San Jose that is.
A’s to SJ
Illegally took over the east bay? What?
No judge is gonna even hear that case…
You can’t dictate who’s a fan of a certain team.
And after the way Oakland’s ownership has treated the team and the fans, I honestly cannot understand why anyone else gets the blame over those greedy ass billionaires that refuse to put any money into the team/stadium!
Blame the ones who are actually doing harm to your team, not the team you’re jealous of because it’s well run.
The A’s owners are trying to build (and finance) the new stadium. Can’t build a new stadium if the city won’t let you.
Even if the A’s could get a move to San Jose approved by MLB, which they can’t, all the parcels of land in San Jose that were once thought to be possible sites are now gone. Google gobbled up all the vacant land in downtown for their huge new campus and other less promising potential sites have also been taken.
A anti trust lawsuit filed by the Giants to prevent a split market between them and another team successfully giving the Giants a Monopoly on the San Jose Market. One of the dumbest things I’ve seen in recent history, San Jose is the Giants from San Francisco… Turf…. No yeah, a Judge legit ruled that the San Francisco Giants are allowed a Monopoly, the exact thing the Anti Trust lawsuit they used was designed to prevent….
The San Jose ship sailed long ago. Google is building a campus on the downtown site.
I can tell you why in 1 word CALIFORNIA!
High taxes make it difficult to get anyone to locate there, that’s why you’re losing so many business’s to Texas
wileycoyote56:
So many businesses? Okay, Tesla… and who else? And believe me, Texas will get as tired and annoyed at Elon Musk as California did. Wait until he starts telling the Texas legislature how they should be doing things.
Why do you think Musk moved to Texas? So he could pay his employees less, pay less taxes, and make higher profits. Texas can have him.
The best thing I ever did was move to California. Yes, taxes are higher, but so are wages. If you like food and wine, or craft beer, good weather. and a nice quality of life, there’s no better place to live in my book. And I’ve lived all over, being an army brat. You can have Texas, been there.
You my friend, hit the nail on the head.
Giants get the Oakland territory. In return, A’s get San Jose. Sounds like a win-win.
@dbdmack they totally would. Vegas is construction capital of America. They build em up to tear em down to build up even more.
Huh? I’m positive Vegas will build another stadium if the A’s commit. Vegas is all about building. They’re the only city that says yes first and then finds a way. “Vegas won’t build another stadium…..” lol
I am sure Vegas would find a way, would definitely be interesting if they got the A’s…going from no pro level teams to having the A’s, Raiders, Knights, and Aces…also seems like they would be considered if the NBA ever expanded
The NBA is going to expand soon too.
Viva Las Vegas
It feels like the A’s owners and Kaval actually don’t want to be in Oakland, but Oakland city wants them more. Sounds like A’s ownership being greedy than anything here. Anyone else getting those vibes?
#SellTheTeam #KeepTheA’sInOakland
A’s ownership is based in the BayArea. They don’t want to move.
of course Oakland wants them alot of tax dollars involved etc… They leave soo does the city… The As owner wants out of Oakland but want to remain in the Bay Area the issue is the SF territory rights.. I think they should try Freemont again as an option.. San Jose us still considered Giant territory but i think Freemont isnt
How TF do you “own” a city that is bigger than your city?
Territorial rights should be urinated on, they shouldnt exist, they arent ethical or moral. Who cares, do it anyway and let the chips fall where they may.
Not to mention the Giants having team stores in the EAST BAY like Walnut Creek, where’s the “territorial rights” there??
Hahaha “moral”…
This is business in America, “moral” not in the lexicon.
And even so, how is morality involved here?
A’sfaninUK:
Are you suggesting that no team should be able to have a store to sell their gear in another team’s city? Apples and oranges in regard to territorial rights
Hate to tell you this, it’s why I think the A’s should move, but there is no majority of A’s fans in any Bay Area county, Giants fans outnumber A’s fans in Alameda, their own county, as well as nearby Contra Costa.
Are you saying territorial rights should prevent those Giants fans from purchasing Giants gear?
You rave about how unfair it all is to the A’s, but you seem to think it’s okay to keep a store out of an area simply because of team allegiance.
AsFaninUK does not speak for A’s fans
There are more A’s fans in solano county the bay areas fastest growing county. The Vallejo Fairfield or Vacaville A’s sounds a little funny but they could work with the name like the Warriors or Angels have.
A’sfaninUK, you do realize if you tear up territorial rights, you’d have about 7 teams in NY, 5 in Los Angeles and 3 in Chicago, don’t you? Can you honestly tell me you don’t believe both Florida teams, the A’s and the Pirates wouldn’t draw better as a 2nd rate team in those markets than they do now?
Which would leave Pittsburgh open to a new team, if your predicted scenario occurs.
You don’t know what you are talking about. Here’s a test; name the A’s owner.
Lol
You don’t understand how this works UK. Prepare for the end my friend.
@A’sfaninUK, that is exactly the problem. Fisher has put no effort to KEEP the A’s in Oakland. He’s complained about the coliseum not bringing fans while never spending on players. He’s complained about paying money outright, as the Giants did as an investment move which btw Johnny boy, it works. Then couldn’t believe how trying to get more than 3 quarters of a billion dollars publically funded wouldn’t submerge his stupid “privately funded” concept.
Fisher is, without a doubt, one of the biggest POS owners to ever disgrace baseball. He made $240+MM in revenue sharing from 2012-2017 yet ZERO of it went to a roster, let alone his staff he felt cool with not paying during the peak of last year. Sure didn’t go to a funding pool for a stadium? Where’s the money Johnny? Didn’t go to Donaldson thats for sure.
Screw this guy. If the A’s relocate, it will be 100% John Fishers fault and no one else.
THANK YOU!!!!!
This is exactly what I’ve been saying, but stupid A’s fans just want to blame the Giants for all of their problems…
Fisher is a total POS, why do the fans still support his greedy/anti-fan agenda?
Ah right, stupidity.
Congrats!
They’ve been negotiating for years, and nothing.
The owner is not being greedy, Stan Kronke was being greedy when he moved the Rams from St Louis back to LA instantly increasing the value of his team. Oakland has had a on going problem with getting the funding for a new stadium, its why the Raiders now play in Las Vegas… Oakland deserves to keep the baseball team, the fans deserved to keep the Raiders, both teams deserve better than to play in the Coliseum. The Coliseum is the only Duel professional sports stadium left in America, a fossil at this point a landmark from a different era and the only one of its kind left because they were due for replacement as soon as they were built, even more so now that the Raiders have left. This is why they renovated Busch Stadium II before the state secured voter supported state wide funding for a new stadium in 2004-2005? I hope Oakland gets a new stadium, they don’t even open Mount Davis for baseball games and now that football is gone… To much history in that city to leave it behind for the team, the great teams of the 80’s and into early 90’s not to mention Moneyball
Stan Kroenke righted a wrong when he brought the Rams back to Los Angeles. The team never should have been allowed to leave in the first place. You want to discuss greedy owners? Georgia Frontiere was a greedy owner who got paid royally to throw a temper tantrum and move her team. First, she made sure to sell off or trade the best players so that the fans wouldn’t attend the home games.
The Rams are back where they belong. The Chargers should still be in San Diego.
The Raiders would still be in Oakland, but the mayor wanted the 81 A’s home games more than the Raiders. I think she still does want the A’s in Oakland, but it appears the other politicians in Oakland are going to let the A’s leave for Las Vegas. All this talk of other cities being in contention for the A’s is being done to help identify potential expansion cities. Montreal, Charlotte, Nashville, Portland, OR., and possibly Vancouver, BC will be in contention for what will likely be the final MLB expansion. I think MLB stops at 32.
This is why Montreal is being talked up despite having no new stadium deal in place. MLB would like to have the Expos return before the dust settles. I think if the Rays do move, they will become the new Expos of the AL. This would leave Charlotte vs. Nashville for the eastern team and Portland vs. Vancouver for the western team.
Good take
Would be sad for Oakland to lose all 3 franchises within a decade. Rooting for Oakland, the A’s belong there.
Portland!
That was my thought too… Do like a lot of the companies in the Bay area and move to Portland
Portland might not be the best option these days
Portland has a lot of same issues that Oakland has….so I don’t get that concept. Might as well just stay in Oakland in that case.
Vegas bond.
My name is Bond. Vegas Bond.
Hahaha
No good excuses other than it was probably 3am and I was high.
I’ve been the latter a lot more with the garbage season the cubs are having.
Amazing comeback last night though.
I’m a Pirates fan so I’ve got nothing for you, ha.
Move to Tampa to share the Trop with the Rays!
Des Moines!
What the thw blue he!! is there to do in Des Moines Iowa? DMA and the ONM Omaha Nebraska Marlins where there is no water.
I started thinking I was dead myself. Til I realized I was just in Nebraska.
I’d tell the A’s to go screw themselves.
Sounds like the A’s are loading up their wagons and heading towards Las Vegas. Would love to see them in San Jose, but completely understand the move to Vegas if it happens.
Currently watching the Giants, it pains me, but realistically, they absolutely do not look like a team with the best record in baseball. Their offense, especially with RISP is not good. Time for Zaidi to make a move before they find themselves sinking fast in the NL West.
Kris Bryant? Can play multiple positions, give the old guys rest. Time to pull the trigger Mr. Farhan.
Huh?
You might want to re-check your stats on the Giants…
They’re one of the best teams (if not the best) in baseball with men in scoring position.
I was referring to this particular series against the Cardinals. RISP was a major problem.
They definitely can’t afford to have Tauchman taking any at bat that matters if they are serious about winning the NL West. They should have won that game today easily.
I agree. Their pitching has been great all year.
The old guys are all hurt now, time to bring a versatile proven stud in for the rest of the year. I’m sure ownership has given Zaidi the green light to make moves. It’s time!
Your right about Kris Bryant !!!!
Give me an answer to this question,
Where would the A’s build a stadium, with the housing and retail like they want to do in Oakland, in San Jose ? The Sharks are getting squeezed out with the stupid google project. Think about things before you make suggestions.
This looks just like the Chargers situation in San Diego. The politicians think they control the situation. The NFL warned San Diego and San Diego lost. MLB warned Oakland, we shall see but I’d bet the house the A’s are gone.
Is San Diego any worse for wear? They saved 2B$ and lost revenues 10 Sundays a year. After the economy going into the tank 3 times in the last 20 years I’d be hard pressed to give my constituents hard earned tax dollars to building a concrete monstrosity for a private company appraised at a billion dollars.
San Diego lost the Chargers but look at Padres attendance…
I will never call the chargers the LA Chargers. Doesn’t sound right. I still call progressive field Jacob’s Field. Same with Comiskey Field. The one I can’t keep track of is the Broncos. Way too many name changes.
Chargers will be back in SD within a few decades. Their move to LA was short-sighted and stupid given LA was unable to support one team not that long ago, let alone two.
Austin Athletic’s.
Hell yes
I been following this situation daily and it’s not looking good for Oakland.
#FreeBritney
If they move is going to be Las Vegas. They have had three meetings there with another one coming on Wednesday. And all of them have gone well.
Yep – I’ve been thinking it’s been planned behind the scenes for a while now. All this talk about San Jose, Portland, New Orleans, et all is silly. It makes sense, Vegas wants them, it’s in the same area/division, and they could whip up a stadium in a year or two.
I don’t believe Fisher ever wanted to stay in Oakland. He just had to wait for MLB to give the OK. While that was going he fleeced MLB with forced rev sharing.
Fisher is the reason the A’s are in Oakland today. He bought into the team to keep them in the Bay Area in the first place. Maybe align you thoughts with some facts.
I just drove by the Raiders new stadium yesterday. If anyone thinks the A’s should stay in that dump and not move to Las Vegas, take one look at the Raiders stadium and you’ll change you’re mind.
Allegiant is awesome. I saw the time lapse video and it was art.
I live in Vegas, and Allegiant stadium is awesome. They can’t figure out parking or how to get people there so far without it being a huge mess, but Vegas would absolutely build a stadium, they just built a brand new AAA stadium a couple years ago. I realize that is not the same thing cost wise, but Vegas has no problem spending and building.
athleticsnation.com/2012/4/18/2958535/territorial-…
read this.. It explains everything.. The A’S been trying to leave Oakland since the 80s.. The giants thought bout leaving first then they got Oracle chose to stay. The A’S tried several times for San Jose but the Giants wont approve sometime in the Early 90s when the Giants got new owners they chose to stay by the agreement to the sale it stated the A’S franchise cant be near their franchise hence territory rights. Simply they could just move to Berkley which isnt far from Oakland they already use The Berkley platform for the radio broadcast..
So is the new AL West team going to be in Portland or Las Vegas?
Extortion by the team owners for corporate welfare, plain and simple.
Exactly!
I can’t wait until Rob Manfred forces the A’s to move , or sell , and move . I can be an A’s fan anywhere . I just never want to hear those dorks in the stands say Let’s Go Oakland . Retards 3 hours of that crap . I want a new stadium far away from Oakland . Fill up the seats so I don’t have to listen to morons while watching the game on TV .
Does you TV not have a mute button?
At least you got over it.
The A’s, like the Ray’s, are always loaded with young talent. They have a great manager and scouting department. They’re fun to watch.
If they relocate to Las Vegas, they will succeed big time.
Central Valley:
Probably, but it depends on what they can get in LV. The A’s want to follow the Giant’s model. A stadium near downtown with lots of development opportunities for housing, retail, and mixed-use. That’s why they want Howards Terminal.
Does Vegas have a site near downtown, accessible to public transportation? Honestly, I have no idea. But I don’t think they want a suburban park surrounded by parking lots.
Vegas is full of open dirt next to the strip, airport, 15 freeway.
The raiders just finished their stadium and it’s less than a mile from the strip.
Surrounded by strip clubs though.
if moving, i hope they build near the strip. they mentioned last week the top two sites are in henderson (next to the local costco’s… $1.50 hot dogs/sodas during a game…).
the person in charge of land management before that gave a wink and a nod to land at the corner of the strip and sahara (near circus circus). i’d prefer that site. easier access from the freeway, the monorail, and the deuce (bus line).
a stadium at the strip/sahara would mean, once i retire, getting a small place/condo near by, be able to walk across the street to the ballpark, and catch a ballgame. 🙂
I live in Las Vegas and there isn’t a vacant area near Las Vegas Blvd and Sahara but there is a huge gaping hole where the New Frontier used to be next to the new resorts world that just opened up.
Good questions. I have no idea, but from afar, a move to Vegas could make sense. The A’s are too good of a ball club to not have a nice, attractable stadium full of fans every for every game they play.
Wonder what would happen with the new Triple A stadium in Summerlin? Could they possibly expand it to a MLB stadium? They have a lot of empty land around the ball park. Its only their 3rd season.
Theres a big plot of land on the strip just south of Mandalay Bay that could be a possibility. And then there are al lot of warehouses next to the Raiders Stadium that could be taken out for a baseball stadium. Then maybe the could build some proper parking for both venues.
If I’m a free agent I don’t sign to play summer games in Vegas unless there is an air conditioned dome.
If I’m a free agent Vegas is exactly where I’m going. I am not, however, even entertaining the idea of 45 degree April games in Colorado.
I’d happily take a 45 degree game in Denver over 105 degree game in Vegas. You can always put more clothes on, the same can’t be said for taking them off.
Third Major sports franchise to depart under Libby Schaaf’s watch?
Exactly. Nobody gets that. After the Warriors and Raiders, everyone wants to throw the A’s under the bus. The owners plan to build a new stadium with zero public money, as well as reinvent the coliseum site into a public park isn’t enough? How much more do they need to do in order for people to understand they are and have been trying to stay for like 15 years?
Don’t let facts get in the way of commenting next time.
To be fair there was nothing she could have done to stop the Warriors from moving to SF. Lacob and Guber decided early on that they were going to put their arena investment in the place where they could get the best return and that was clearly in SF.
Vegas just finished allegiant stadium, and the 2 biggest hotels on the strip.
Resort worlds opened last month and the drew opens next year.
Madison Square Garden opens a new arena on the strip next year too.
The infrastructure for a stadium is available and cheap compared to other cities.
The population has exploded from people seeking work and cheaper living since Covid.
Vegas is ripe for a MLB team.
AsFaninUK does not speak for A’s fans.
Unfortunately Baseball in Oakland is literally on borrowed time
I’m pretty shocked that the people of Oakland are down with funding any part of this via these tax district schemes or whatever that crap is. I’d let the team walk and turn the stadium site into a casino.
Supposedly they are bringing a WNBA team to play at the warriors former arena , which they’d be lucky to get a couple thousand people to attend
Move A’s to Vegas, Rays to Charlotte, add expansion teams to Portland and Nashville
Unlikely anyone is investing a billion dollars or more in putting a team in Portland anytime soon
Stop watching Fox news. Portland isn’t what you think it is.
So Portland isn’t a city with a violent crime rate at about the national level with a property crime rate double the national level?
I can see the tag line now: bring your business to beautiful Portland. Anarchist mobs probably won’t try to tear it apart.
Sound like a dtrumper
what does politics have to do with baseball?
You’d need to ask Manfred.
Chicago has two MLB teams
This has been my thought all along too. Oakland should move to Vegas because the Raiders have already moved there. Fan base would be the same, and, they could support baseball there. Probably get a nice stadium/remodel the new current one there to make it viable too. A’s has to be Vegas or Portland though to keep the natural rivalry with Seattle.
Rays to Charlotte makes sense too, but I still prefer a new park in a better location for them. The Trop is a dump, and I don’t think they should be in St. Pete. I hate seeing one of best teams in baseball consistently have one of the lowest attendances.
Portland (with that proposed ballpark.. gorgeous) is better suited for an expansion team rather than relocation. To those hating on Portland… as stated, stop watching FOX news. They lied… shocking. That was one district, and not even a central one. The vast majority is more than fine.. Look at the Portland Diamond Project though… they have been preparing for a team for years. Plus, lots of large companies there (including Nike).
Nashville would be a cool place, and it’s relatively secluded from other markets too.
If the Rays go anywhere, it will be Montreal. Much larger market than Charlotte (4 million in the metro vs. 2.6) with a city that has a history of strong support for an mlb team, even though that team generally was run very poorly throughout its history and was not treated well by mlb.
What has Fox News got to do with it? I watch Youtubers who live in the Pacific Northwest who show what anarchy has done to Portland over the last 18 months.
Shhhhh, your words are violence and violence is free speech.
Portland is more viable than Oakland, Vancouver another option, MLB would love the money entrance fees. Also would make leagues even, four division s of four teams
Unfortunately, you can’t ignore the political climate when considering relocation or new construction.
Oakland is a crap hole with high taxes and a crime rate through the roof. They have an established fan base that doesn’t attend games and that has nothing to do with the stadium. On top of all that, California maintained shutdown restrictions longer than anyone and are reimplementing mask requirements in LA, which means the bay area will soon. Next, they’ll go back to a shutdown. California is a mess.
Portland is a dumpster fire right now. Violent crime rate spiked and they too, appear to be headed for permanent masks, mandatory vaccinations and God knows what down the road. No professional athlete will want to settle their family into that heap. Maybe an hour outside of Portland but even then Gov. Brown and her rules make it hard.
Montreal. Just forget about Canada. Really. Before COVID, sure but now that they’re headed toward mandatory shots and have maintained a lockdown, probably not. If there was a consensus that government would give back power, maybe. But that doesn’t appear to be on the horizon.
Las Vegas is a very intriguing option, but that’s largely dependent upon if the city will raise enough funds to build another stadium for a professional sports team, and if they can come up with a design that won’t make hitting stupid. The Las Vegas 51’s HR rates would’ve made anyone at Coors Field blush.
Honestly, Nashville is probably the best option in the current climate, but the hangup here would be realignment. You can’t put a Nashville team in the AL West, you’d probably have to put them in the AL Central and move the KC Royals into the AL West.
why are those Billionaires of the MLB not financing the stadium…????? They want their welfare is why…
The A’s proposal is for a privately funded stadium. Maybe read before commenting next time.
100% correct on all points.
Baseball wants expansion but won’t (can’t?) expand until the A’s/Rays stadium situations are resolved but the resolution to both could result in relocation in which would take two possible expansion locations away. The sociopolitical climate as of right now eliminates several possibilities. We’ve heard possible expansion by 2028, and maybe things will be different/better by then but right now i don’t see any resolution in sight for either team
More racist, uniformed gibberish.
Every word you typed…is wrong.
KC and Nashville both in Central Time zone, so yes, they could put Nashville in the AL West. KC is established in the AL central as well and likely would want to remain in the AL central.
Vegas is probably the most likely option, then Portland. There are issues with any place the A’s would go, but likely a lot less than what Oakland presents currently. Pretty sure of two things. One, MLB would like to keep the A’s out west if at all possible, whether in Oakland or elsewhere. Two, COVID will play absolutely no role whatsoever in site selection..
Angelic—You think the A’s location should be based on non-existent COVID-related mask and vaccine requirements? Odd.
If you’re an owner moving you multi billion dollar team to a location, do you want to move it to one that is more likely or less likely to limit the amount of people you will be allowed to have in attendance and thus monetize?
As much as people on here want to scream that everything is racist or some fox news conspiracy, team owners don’t care about your feefees. They care about $. As we’ve seen over the last year or so, the local/state government can have different ideas on how much they should restrict businesses.
You know absolutely nothing about Portland or Oregon. You should keep your ignorant opinion to yourself.
Moving KC to the AL West would be horrible. Kansas City is in the Central time zone, there is no reason to have their fans subjected to half their games starting at 9PM. So really there would be no virtually difference at all putting Nashville or KC there.
What we need is to expand to 32 teams so the division could be cut to 4 teams each. That way the 2 LA teams, SF, SD, Arizona, Seattle, Oakland/Vegas, and an expansion team in Portland or wherever. could comprise the two western divisions. Then you could move the two Texas teams and Colorado into the Central divisions along with KC, St. Louis, Minnesota, an expansion team in either OKC/NO.or Nashville, and a relocated Rays team in another of those three cities. Then you could have Cincy, Cleveland, Detroit, the two Chicagos, Pittsburgh, Toronto, and Milwaukee in a midwest division. And the two NYs, Philly, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Miami, and Baltimore in the east.
You could also put the two Chicagos in the Central and move the Rays to Nashville and the expansion team to Montreal in the NL midwest. I think I would prefer that to avoid splitting the Cubs and Cardinals.
Of course you would keep the two league structure, maybe move Houston back to the NL where they belong, but for the most part everyone stays in their league. 14 games a year against the three teams in your division, 10 games a year against every other team in your league and ZERO GAMES AGAINST THE OTHER LEAGUE! Get rid of interleague play once and for all. Keep the DH in the AL and free from the NL.
your last paragraph is a thing of beauty
#HiFlewforCommish
Can you say Las Vegas?
Jokingly back to Philadelphia where the A’s came from
Why is a group of Billionaires trying to extort a stadium out of the City… If its such a good deal and such a money maker.. surely the Billionaires Club known as the MLB.. should finance the project…
They are paying most of the 12 billion they just want the city to pay 855 million in infrastructure.
Let me translate that.. they want the city to build the new stadium.. which they profit off of building Hotels and casinios and shopping malls around.. which they will of course own… Its a con Job.. if that Billion dollar stadium is such a good deal.. surely they should spend their own money and not the tax-payers money..
People would rather believe the coordinated smear campaign by Manfred and the A’s owner rather than the truth..
Isn’t the owner trying to purchase the land where the new stadium is proposed to being built?
Baseball in Montreal once again?!?!?
Sell to Larry Ellison or leave. No more taxpayer subsidies for spoiled billionaires.
Leave it is.
Is the Las Vegas AAA ballpark viable as a temporary home, maybe with some revisions? Could it be expanded to accommodate a MLB team? Or would the A’s have to wait a couple of years for a new park to be built from scratch?
It can’t be expanded very much,maybe 2000 extra seats (Vegas resident) They have narrowed the site search to about 12 and the developers have lined up and are throwing private money at the project. The A’s brass is here today 7/21 with the architect of the project. The architect will help narrow the site choices (this is the 4th trip in a month) All the A’s have to do is pick a site and Vegas is ready to build.
Sacramento,Utah also other options out West. Hawaii to hot. What MLB needs is a Midwest Division that includes Texas and MO Teams. Nashville is closer to Altanta,Tigers,Ohio Teams and so on.
Manfred trying to turn MLB towards the NFL “Extortion Model” of team location. “Do what we want, pay for everything, or…gee, wouldn’t [insert city] be a great place for a baseball team.”
As you can see, Vegas has NO problem building stuff. Next up, a baseball stadium.
8newsnow.com/news/the-strip/only-on-8-new-renderin…
Building is not the issue in most places. FINANCING is the issue most cities have when owners make demands for taxpayer funding. Vegas has the advantage of being able to use hotel taxes (as they did with the Raiders stadium) and to leverage their tourism industry to attract investment in entertainment venues that residents of Vegas also get to benefit from.
They have the Aviators and ironically, the AAA team of the A’s
I haven’t seen where a AAA team is located that close to the Main Ball Club.
I think that if you want to move the A’s to Vegas, you’d may want to make the Las Vegas Stadium bigger and move the Aviators
Come to Philly Area we need a 2nd team since ours always sucks and lacks good ownership and upper management and scouts for years
Well, it would fit since they used to be the Philadelphia Athletics.
Why would you go from crime ridden Oakland to crime ridden Portland(scumbags)
You’re not a very smarts man.
actually, I am surprised that they still have the Blazers.
Why haven’t they looked at building at the old Alameda Naval Base? There’s a huge amount of land, right on the bay just ripe for redevelopment.
Access to Alameda is severely limited. BART doesn’t go there. The only public transport is bus and ferry. With the city growing, the roads, which can’t be widened, can barely handle what traffic there is now.
If you’ve ever been to the monthly Alameda Antiques Faire, you’ve sat through huge traffic back-ups in the tube. Yeah, there’s plenty of space there, but the infrastructure for a stadium is severely lacking.
At least Cal Trans can take you to see the Giants and the 49ers. The Bay Bridge is as busy, if not busier than the Golden Gate…. yeah, but Oakland is only growing in numbers, not in size and distance. They have to knock the coliseum down and just build a new one there. If they don’t like the low income housing idea (which I agree with the A’s saying no), then just find a better deal before you move and finally move.
Because the council wants to keep the A’s in the same situation without any growth. They don’t care about any of that. They only care about themselves, making their own money at people’s and franchises expense without any other growth but their own.
The redevelopment is great idea but who would pay? The city won’t and sure right now there would be a deal with Naval Academy for it, but doesn’t the city own that also?
Attendance-wise, Indianapolis makes a lot of sense too. Proximity to the Reds, Cubs, Chisox, Tigers, Cardinals, and Indians would create some interest. Also, the stadium was built with expansion in mind for just such scenario.
Idk I think you’d be cutting into like four or five fanbases. Sad thing is, I’m not even referring to stadium attendance, but it’s the cable companies who would object to it, losing that share percentage. Indy is like two hours from me I’d love to drive there to see my team for a little weekend trip. I would think Nashville is in a more empty territory though.
Vote was 6-1-1 in favor of moving forward.
They did agree to move forward, but they rejected spending any money on the project..
I would be surprised if the A’s don’t reject it and move anyway at this point.
Nashville Athletics
Nashville Rays.
I don’t care which team we get as long as we get one, preferrably the AL so I can go see the Angels when they are in town. 100% selfish.
This is a poorly written and confusing article. It does not make clear WHY the A’s and MLB are opposed to the City’s plan. Amend it so that it is clear to anyone that might read it.
That’s because it doesn’t make much sense as to why the A’s are not happy with the city’s plan. Oakland made huge concessions, one of which was finding the money for the $350 million in infrastructure improvements (thank you CA budget surplus). Basically the only current sticking point is that the city is asking the A’s to include low income housing as part of their development plan. That is something that every other major housing development in CA must include.
The A’s keep moving the goal post. The city vote yesterday got things to a point where the two sides are closer than they’ve been in the last 20 years. They’re not going to come close to getting a $12 billion dollar development deal in Las Vegas. Why they’re so eager to leave the 6th largest market in the country for the 40th largest is illogical at best. The recent actions/rhetoric of the A’s/Menfred have been an odd series of head scratchers.
I would assume they’re just playing chicken – being as hardnosed as possible until the other side finally says “okay, that’s it”. That’s why the city did what they did – they said “this is what we’ll approve”, and now it’s up to OAK/MLB to figure out if that is good enough or not.
basically, let’s just stay at the coliseum and tweak the infrastructure until we find a deal like the city did with Oracle to redo that old arena….
Hmmm…. the coliseum and Oracle are on the same property! A property that would decrease in value with that “low income housing,” which means free and the A’s have to pay for that as well.
If there were a California surplus, then the many thousands or hundreds of thousands who applied for unemployment would surely benefit. They sure are using the money to good use (rolls eyes)
This is so stupid. The A’s want to make it seem like they want to stay in Oakland when really they just want to get out and their blaming it all on the city of oakland
The A’s might be disappointed in the council’s vote, but it beats rejecting the proposal but it is better than a no vote. A no vote basically shuts this down and forces the A’s to move. A yes vote at least keeps the dialogue going and hopefully they can get to an agreement.
Doesnt California have a $76 billion surplus? Build them a stadium with 1% of the surplus. Wtf
Because that money is in the control of the state not the city of Oakland, Building a stadium in Oakland for their billionaire owner is not a priority to 90% of the people in the state who are not residents of Oakland let alone A’s fans.
The state actually freed up $280 million for Oakland to use as part of the stadium build, which allowed the city to agree that the A’s would not need to come up with the $350 billion needed for infrastructure improvements.
I think the A’s should remain in Oakland. They are the only franchise left in the city and would thrive in a new downtown stadium.
That being said, if it can’t work, explore Montreal. I know, alignment would be a nightmare but they deserve to get the Expos back.
Tampa bay owners want to move to Montreal or a least split the cities for the team
I think the split is a soft relocation. I think Montreal will have a full time team eventually, be it the Rays or expansion.
I think if the Rays’ owner moves to Montreal, he would need the whole works.
They should move to San Jose. Oh yeah, MLB blocked them because the Giants own that area. Congress needs to pull the exception so cities and fans are treated better.
jonbluvin:
If the A’s move to SJ how are the Giants financially compensated for the loss in what comes from the South Bay through TV revenues? Otherwise, is it fair to ask any team to lose millions so another team can move in?
I’m not sure why the A’s would want to move to SJ anyway. The Giants are very popular there, and it would take awhile to convince a lot of fans to change allegiance. I know the couple friends I have, that live there, wouldn’t mind the A’s moving there, but have said the Giants would still be their favorite team.
Why not move to a new city and have instant fandom, instead of moving to place that already loves a different team?
Wouldn’t make sense since they have the Cal League San Jose Giants…
The same idea is with the 49ers now in Santa Clara….
I think the A’s should move out of CA and into a business/franchise friendly state. Let’s try Oklahoma City….
The A’s are here in Vegas Right now. They need to pick a site and they get the stadium. The developers and private money are already lined up. This is the 4th trip here. Vegas A’s
I hope Oakland plays hardball with them every step of the way. I hope every city does. This billionaire owner that invests little to nothing into the on field product and constantly cries poor wants a new multi-billion dollar playground for all of those millionaires to play in during a pandemic? fine. you pay for it.,
You don’t read much. The owners are paying for it. They just want the city to provide infrastructure updates. You know, like any other city that builds a convention center or stadium. You want 30k people to be able to get into the area and out without gridlock. This is a basic taxpayer system, and I am sure the city would be making money hand-over-fist once the stadium opens.
So yeah, play hardball and end up with zero sports teams and no free money.
Can you say “Raiders”.
You don’t read much. The A’s are putting up a portion of the funding and want to own everything without being taxed on it. Oakland, by law, had to include low income housing which the A’s were against – it’s a law, it has to be included.
I don’t mind seeing a business who offers a service of baseball entertainment wanting to purchase and own certain things on the land and pay a specific lease or fee or charge the city a lease or fee for their services. It is a franchise that provides entertainment and if they make money, they should have at least 80%, if not more going to them. I wouldn’t want to say no tax, but it is fair to not have a tax since they are paying for the land and all the utilities that go to the city anyways.
mitchladd:
I guess you missed the part about the stadium being privately financed,
The better example is either Miami or Detroit though. Franchise owners do have the obligation to put a good product on the field. Also look at Colorado. Their management is horrible, but their economics is not the same as Oakland, thanks to those in government who do not care about anything. At least with the Rockies, they were able to handle a number of decent players but they always don’t pan out or never finish or run through their contract.
With Oakland, I haven’t seen a big time resign, let alone a big signing in a long time. I get that you have an owner that is a penny pincher and so on. I just don’t think it’s solely that.
AL East: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Buffalo Bisons, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays
AL North: Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Spiders, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins
AL Southwest: Houston Astros, Las Vegas Vipers, Oklahoma City Red Wolves, San Antonio Scorpions, Texas Rangers
AL West: Los Angeles Angels, Portland Thunderbirds, Salt Lake Silvers, Seattle Mariners, Vancouver Whales
NL East: Hartford Seals, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals
NL North: Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Indianapolis Fireflies, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals
NL South: Atlanta Braves, Charlotte Knights, Nashville Bandits, New Orleans Gators, Raleigh Reapers
NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
It’s basically a stall tactic by the city council. They want the A’s to play in the same stadium but just do tweaks here and there. They don’t care about baseball or any activities for the city. It’s all politics of a different kind where they only care about themselves and controlling all aspects. Basically, slowly putting vinegar in the milk.
They will move just like the Raiders did, to a place that loves sports, jobs and activities and entertainment for families. If it weren’t for franchises with bad management, you wouldn’t notice the politics affecting these franchises.
They gone