The city of Oakland is still feeling the loss of one of its pro sports teams to Las Vegas. It soon could lose another.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told SiriusXM’s Chris Russo on Saturday that he believes the Athletics will be leaving Oakland and a move to Las Vegas is likely.
The A’s would be the third pro team to move from Oakland in recent years. The Raiders left for Las Vegas in 2020 and the Warriors moved back to San Francisco in 2019.
ICYMI: @MLB Commissioner #RobManfred talked about Oakland & Tampa and their current ballpark situations. pic.twitter.com/Q7wLSJY6n0
— Chris Mad Dog Russo (@MadDogUnleashed) October 29, 2022
According to The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli, Manfred declined to address the comments when he met with media before Game 2 of the World Series in Houston, saying, “I’m done talking about Oakland.”
Manfred declined to talk to the media. Asked to follow up on Oakland comments he made to @MadDogUnleashed he said “I’m done talking about Oakland.”
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) October 29, 2022
FAGAN: Astros again show biggest World Series weakness is playing at home
An A’s move to Vegas has been rumored for some time. Speculation ramped up after MLB told the Athletics to consider a move if Oakland would not approve plans for a new stadium and development project. The league said in 2021 that Oakland’s RingCentral Coliseum site is “not a viable option for the future vision of baseball,” according to CNBC.
“MLB is concerned with the rate of progress on the A’s new ballpark effort with local officials and other stakeholders in Oakland,” MLB said, per CNBC. “The A’s have worked very hard to advance a new ballpark in downtown Oakland for the last four years, investing significant resources while facing multiple roadblocks. We know they remain deeply committed to succeeding in Oakland, and with two other sports franchises recently leaving the community, their commitment to Oakland is now more important than ever.”
The Athletics have focused on a waterfront location at Oakland’s Howard Terminal to build a privately funded $12 billion mixed-used development area that would include a $1 billion stadium, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission voted to remove Howard Terminal’s port priority use designation, which was seen as a crucial step in keeping the A’s in Oakland.
MORE: Stephen Vogt pens storybook ending to big league career
However, the city of Oakland missed a key deadline in October to finalize a development agreement for the project, per the Review-Journal. That put on hold a potential binding vote almost certainly until 2023. The Athletics’ lease agreement for RingCentral Coliseum runs through 2024.
While negotiations within the Bay Area have been ongoing, Oakland executives have also explored the possibility of moving to Las Vegas. The Review-Journal reported last August that team officials were talking with hotel magnate Phil Ruffin about a stadium on the north side of the Vegas Strip. The Review-Journal reported the team has looked at moving to Las Vegas since May 2021.
The Athletics have played at the Coliseum since 1968, and it has endured a litany of problems, including lighting and sewage issues. In 2022, the Athletics averaged 9,973 fans per opening, the lowest average attendance in the majors by nearly 1,300 fans. According to ESPN, 2005 was the last time the A’s finished above the bottom 10 in attendance.
Hits: 0
