Major League Baseball’s owners will vote on the A’s relocation application during owners meetings scheduled for November, reports Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Neither the team nor MLB have announced the news.
The A’s relocation proposal has been in the committee stage. A three-person ownership contingent of Mark Attanasio (Brewers), John Middleton (Phillies) and John Sherman (Royals) has been reviewing the application. They’ll soon make recommendations to the league and an executive council, which will then relay its own findings to all 30 ownership groups.
November’s vote among the ownership groups is decisive. The A’s will need approval from 75% to finalize their relocation. It is generally seen as a fait accompli that they’ll be approved, likely by unanimous vote. If/when that happens, they’ll officially begin their move to Las Vegas.
Akers writes that construction of the A’s $1.5 billion retractable roof facility at the site of the current Tropicana hotel (which would be demolished and rebuilt at an adjacent site) is tentatively scheduled for early 2025. The plan is for the stadium to be ready by the start of the 2028 season.
It remains unclear where the A’s would play in the intervening years. Their lease at the Oakland Coliseum runs through the end of next season. They don’t have plans finalized for 2025-27. A’s brass has floated the possibility of a short-term lease extension at the Coliseum, though it’s not clear whether Oakland would have any interest in that arrangement. Other speculated possibilities to bridge the gap include playing at their Triple-A ballpark (also in Vegas) or sharing Oracle Park with the Giants.
Please keep the A’s in Oakland.
At least through 2027!
I am taking my son to their Saturday afternoon game, Padres at A’s, it cost $49 per ticket for seats in the first row behind the visitor’s dugout. Even with $20 per ticket in processing fees it is affordable.
The same seats for the Dodgers at Giants are almost 20 times more expensive, over $800 per seat, not something I’m willing to pay.
I don’t expect Oakland to be thrilled with the outcome, but three more years is better than one more year.
Tickets behind the visitors dugout are about $100 a seat for 9/25 Padres at Giants. Buy them a little closer.
Lots of Dodgers fans flood Oracle Park driving costs up
Martras
That’s a Monday game so you’d expect it to be cheaoer than a Saturday game. And for seats on the second row behind the visitors dugout, Padres at Giants on Sept. 25, they are $250 each before processing fees, or five times more than A’s.
So both of our points are valid. A’s games are a great value. If Fisher was even willing to run a $80 million payroll, the team could be a lot better.
Coliseum Authority already said no. It costs more to keep the stadium open than they are being paid.
They should increase the charge to equal costs. A’s might capitulate for two years.
Will fans show up the rest of the season?
Do they show up any season?
Let’s uh see where this is going… A’s owner Fisher sure is waiting for the stadium to be built so that the team’s value is higher and then sale it IMO…
Not convinced Fisher waits for Vegas stadium to get built before selling out to new Vegas owner. May just need mlb owners approval. I don’t think he’s in a position to finance it. IMHO.
Fisher has plenty of money. He just chooses not to spend it. His net worth is $2.5B. Don’t be surprised if he chooses not to sell, especially if revenues increase in Vegas.
Wait, you really think nearly all of his net worth is completely liquid as in currently sitting in a bank account right now?
Of course not. Really, you must think I’m an idiot. But have you ever heard of someone with that net worth unable to get financing for a project? Especially when that project has the political and financial support of the governor and state legislature?
The A’s are valued at $1.18B. That’s less than half. The 17 or so percent of Gap Inc probably accounts for most of the rest. The point still stands that the super rich never spend their own money on anything, and do not need to go hat in hand to beg the bank for a loan.
The financing agreements and collateral use of the franchises makes me think otherwise. There’s a reason he’s siphoning those revenue sharing funds. By no means am I saying he’s poor to be clear.
Pre-pandemic he was worth $4 Billion. A testament to his business acumen.
People who live in Las Vegas can’t afford to go to MLB games. Especially in a sports strutted market with NHL and NFL. They are counting on visitors and tourists to fill the ballpark. That won’t work.
“People who live in Las Vegas can’t afford to go to MLB games.”
Not too huge a generalization. They can afford to go to NHL games, but not MLB games? Median household income in 2021 was $61K. Not great but cost of living is also lower there. Median value of owner occupied homes was only $302K. By comparison Oakland had a median household income in 2021 of $85K, but cost of living is much higher. Median value of owner occupied homes is $722K.
“They are counting on visitors and tourists to fill the ballpark.”
That is unproven conjecture.
Just anecdotally, I have friends that live there and they, and most of their friends as well, could afford season tickets if they wanted.
@Julyn82001 – Fisher is probably not selling as he just would have sold already, years ago, to an investor looking to move the team. He can restructure his assets and buy a new stadium himself, but millionaires and billionaires don’t blow money that way… and that’s why they’re millionaires and billionaires.
As a former Charger fan, I always hate relocation. However this will give me a good excuse to go to Vegas.
I!m sure they’ll sign some quality free agents for their first year in Vegas, beyond that it’s just guessing.
Lol
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Bwahahahaha
Lmao
Lmfao
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Both Fisher and Kaval have said they are don’t this to keep getting revenue sharing money. That means keep putting a low payroll, losing squad on the field so fans don’t attend so revenue stays low so they can collect their money from the other teams and pocket a profit every season.
A curse on Fisher, Manfred and other creeps who have not been honest through this ordeal. Hope it all falls apart in Nevada Legislature. Fisher, like other billionaire jerks, shakes down the public to build him a stadium. #buildityourself #justsayno
Through “this ordeal?” You mean through the last 20 friggen years the A’s have been trying to get a new stadium in the Bay Area? Yeah…
I think he means MLB and the SF Giants sabotaging the A’s efforts to build a new stadium in the SF Bay Area for decades!
(especially in Santa Clara County/Silicon Valley loaded with some of the riches companies in the World).
The 49ers build their new stadium there after numerous ballot initiates were rejected by SF taxpayers./voters.
(and had a 15-20 year new stadium plan also).
And, 2 separate SF Bay Area billionaire owners offered to buy the A’s and build a new stadium on Coliseum land with their own funds…that was shot down by Fischer.
And, the waterfront Park for the proposed new A’s stadium near Jack London Square in Oakland is a much better deal for the A’s and it is still a viable plan.
Makes any thinking fan wonder if there is some backroom deal involving MLB and Fischer to sabotage the A’s still viable SF Bay Area stadium plans and to move the A’s to Vegas and then sell the team to gambling interests?!?!.
It’s not just the SF Giants (who play a part), but multiple cities and multiple proposals got tanked. Even if the city is on board with it, nutso, anti-development zealots and dozens of bureaucratic committees have been able to successfully derail efforts.
Manfred and the owners would have voted in favor of moving the A’s years ago. Literally. Years ago, but Fisher kept working and working and working at it to keep the A’s in Oakland.
It’s not like Fisher is some sort of saint and hero for the people of Oakland, but he’s put forth a huge effort to keep the team there.
Perhaps the A’s ownership could convince MLB to suspend all their contract obligations and just send revenue sharing money for the 2025-27 seasons. No rent, keep the overhead low, have the players work out for three seasons without accruing service time….subsidies for the A’s ownership because of the mental angst of having to strong-arm the taxpayer for more freebies… Oh, the suffering. Tis saga is a disgrace. Manfred knows it, but needs to keep those public dollars flowing.
It’s not so much a vote as a rubber stamp. No MLB team has ever been denied their relocation request. And this will not be the first one.
Weren’t the SF Giants denied their move by the owners to St Petersburg? Owners quicker sold to local interested and the best ball park in baseball was built because of it. Let history repeat itself!
The move wasn’t denied, it was the sale. When a team is for sale, and one group trying to buy the team in order to keep them in that city, which was the case with Peter Magowan, MLB will always side with that group. It’s different story if an owner wishes to retain the team and move them, since owners will always want that ability if they look to move in the future.
I feel awful for Oakland A’s fans. Really enjoyed watching them in the Bash Brothers days and seeing players like Rickey Henderson and Eckersley. I’d pick them in Sports Talk Baseball for SEGA back in the day, that lineup was stacked.
My fellow SEGA respector…when I saw your name pop up in my MLBTR mentions I smiled like the grinch. Well done sir.
I’m not one of those fans who think cities and fanbases are forever entitled to teams but this seems like a really poorly thought out and rushed relocation plan if they have nowhere to play for like 3 or 4 years.
It seems unlikely that the City of Oakland would be willing to do a short term lease extension before the relocation is finalized. That’s their last shred of leverage.
From the team’s perspective, Oakland Collesium might not even be the first choice.. it is difficult to imagine them drawing much in the next few years. I’m sure the upkeep costs are astronomical.. it might just be better to make some enhancements to a good AAA park.
Plenty of options. No need to finalize logistics until it’s official.
Building a BASEBALL franchise based on the concept that fans from OPPOSING teams Will show up in support for 81+ games per year, is one of the most absurd ideas I’ve ever heard. This franchise will be mediocre for decades.
So you’re saying there’s a chance?
This franchise will be bankrupt before they even move into the new park.
IF the courts don’t block it completely.
Why would you assume the locals won’t support the A;s? The Raiders average 62K+, The Golden knights had the 6th highest attendance last season, and their minor league team, in an open stadium, draws extremely well. In 2019 they had 47 sellouts and 23 games of 10K in a stadium that seats only 8.2K
The Raiders were 30th in attendance despite being the ‘new, new’ thing in Las Vegas. They only have 9 games to fill their stadium and they couldn’t manage to do that.
The Knights draw well because they are actually a brand new franchise.
If MLB wants baseball to work in Las Vegas they should look at expansion rather than bringing an existing franchise. A’s ownership has proven they will not spend money even when they have it. If they do spend money – they spend it poorly.
It doesn’t make much sense, to me anyway, that they would support an expansion team, but not an existing team. The history of support for relocated teams suggests otherwise. Much like a used car, while not as good as a new one, it’s still better than none at all. Even if they don’t love the A’s, any baseball fan will for the first time be able to see guys like Ohtani, Betts, Trout Acuna, etc. without having to travel to other cities.
There are many reasons. The main reason is the organization itself. The most optimistic view, if they were to completely overhaul their entire front office and build a team from within, that they could be better than a ~dead last team in about 5-6 seasons. How well would you imagine that will build a fan base? The Rams quickly built a massive fan base in LA partly because they were very good right away.
This is a team that has been purposely driven into the ground for many many years, in order to convince the other owners that they must relocate. Well, once that happens & they start trying to be a competitive baseball organization, winning won’t happen overnight.
So, they will get some decent crowds of opposing team’s fans on weekends and during the summer, but there will be minimal local support. They’ll be in the range of Tampa Bay & Miami in terms of attendance. Maybe they can give tickets away for free.
The casinos will be “buying” thousands of tickets from Fisher at a reduced price or whatever $ figure they need to make things look right for the gaming commission and IRS. Then “giving away/comping” those tickets to their casino guests.
Either way, Fisher is just another grifter multi-millionaire (billionaire?) who privatizes the profits and socializes the losses. It’s now the American way of doing business for many.
But this team didn’t draw even when they were making the playoffs. The poor As since Connie Mack was running the team in the 1910s had to sell off his players because of poor attendance. And they did it in the 1930s and continued until the move to KC and they had to move once again because of low attendance to Oakland and even in the 1970s with a 3pete winner they couldn’t even draw a million people for a season and so they had to sell their players off. The As have rebuilt several times and Billy Beane made his name from Moneyball and now this team is stuck in limbo and the easy fix is to Move because this team is not going to get a stadium and Oakland is riddled with crime and instability so it’s the same reason the Raiders left 3 years ago and you cannot expect a multibillion dollar MLB franchise to lose the kind of money and it would generate in Vegas and the liability it would have from public safety concerns staying long-term in Oakland.
I hate it for the loyal fans there but the city of Oakland has to do better.
The A’s drew in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the Haas Family owned the team. Then the Raiders returned, Mt Davis obstructed the views and the Coliseum Authority pocketed what little money they received rather than making improvements.
@Braves Butt-Head
Fitting moniker.
Of course, by all means, blame the cities.
Some of you had better get a simple fact into your head. If it weren’t for the revenue and tax dollars generated in and by these cities that you complain about, that also help pay, contribute more than you do for your little slice of heaven in the suburbs. You wouldn’t have half the stuff you have in “your small town.”
Here’s another thought for you people not living in the cities. How about you stop turning a blind eye to the opiod crisis and other issues in your own backyard?!
As a lifelong A’s fan and resident, I know this move will be approved but I want at least one – just one! – owner to stand up and vote “No”. It’s unlikely to happen but oh would it make me happy for it at least not to be a unanimous vote…
I went to many A’s games when I temporarily lived in Freemont. Always had a good time watching at the stadium when my hometown Yankees were playing them.
So the owners would be like every city leader and special counsel in the Bay Area?
Are they going to vote all star and democrat style – early and often?
As a fan since childhood for 30 plus years. Once they approve this move I’d be totally okay if they leave immediately, take the trash team and owner out of this area
Coliseum has said no.
Giants have said no.
MLBPA has to approve AAA park and that’s not likely.
Sacramento has a very nice AAA park and they could sell out almost every game for two straight years.
Sacramento attendance capacity with grass berms is 14,000.
That is a 50% attendance increase over the A’s present average attendance.
It would take a little bit of effort for scheduling so that bth A’s games and Rivercats games fit. Might cause River Cats to take a small hit in attendance those years.
Mr. LaForge, make it so.
Chad Hutchinson of Arctos Sports who partnered with the Kings on ownership of the River Cats said it would cost $21 million to bring the park up to major league standards and that if MLB was willing to foot the cost that they would be willing to share the stadium with the A’s through 2027.
Vivek Ranadive who owns the Kings said that if MLB was willing to foot the cost and work around existing special event scheduling that he would sign off on it.
So that is a possibility.
Toronto played in Buffalo, New York (AAA team) during the pandemic. If there is means for a MLB organization to play ball, AAA cities will open doors for them. It’s big money for that AAA stadium and city. From renovations to the stadium, to the local revenue gain, it’s a big boost to that city. Personally, I like to see A’s play in Portland for a few years and see if Portland can support a MLB club. Because Portland, Nashville, Mexico City, and Montreal are cities being mentioned for expansions. Mexico City could be huge revenue but with huge concerns. Much like Oakland, MC could have its own dangers. I’d like to see what Portland can do so MC is eliminated from expansions.
I like to see Portland and OKC forming MLB teams. OKC playing against the Royals, would be a rivalry. Portland against Seattle, another good possible rivalry. OKC is a dark horse and probably won’t be considered, but geographically, Portland and OKC is where the MLB needs to expand at. Enough with the east coast expansions. In a weeks time, you can travel to 8 different stadiums. You could seriously do Boston, NYY, and NYM in 2 days time (schedule matches up a few times in the year) then drive to Washington then head 2 hours north to Philadelphia or 2 hours Baltimore (may ruin 8 stadium run in a week though). So go from Washington to D.C. to Philly. That is 2 more days. Take a drive across the state to Pittsburgh then a short drive to Cleveland. That is 7 stadiums in 6 days. From there you can go to Cincy or take an 8 or 10 hour drive to Chicago to finish up the week. 8 stadiums in 7 days. Try that with the west coast and have options like going to Baltimore or Cincy. The west you can start with LA (twice), Oakland (icky), SF, San Diego, Phoenix, Arlington, and Houston. The distance between each park outside of CA is a longer travel than you can take on the East Coast. This is why I think it’s important to make more West Coast teams and teams in the plains like OKC. Don’t let Oklahoma City size fool you. I think they can draw very well with their location.
There was no minor league season or soecial events in 2020, the union was willing to ok it in a cooler weather city and because of COVID, and it cost the Jays $17 million for temp and permanent improvements to the ballpark.
There are now both a minor league season AND regular special events happening at minor league parks. Its not as simple as it was then.
Buffalo had NO revenue from it because there were no fans in the stands.
Oakland had its chance.
Yah. 4 World Series titles, 6th best winning percentage in MLB since 1970. What a garbage organization! How many titles have the Mets, Tigers, White Sox, Orioles, Rangers, Angels, Astros and Mariners won in that time frame?
Saddened to see that the Tropicana will be demolished.
This will probably also include doing away with the Tropicana’s garden area.
Many years ago, I took in a show and then had a leisurely walk through the garden.
Newer doesn’t necessarily mean better.
Isn’t Strip land way too valuable to waste it on a baseball stadium ???
Tampa can follow Oakland rule book. It will give the Rays a reason to move to Montreal that much sooner.
MLB has really $#!+ the bed on this one. Royal screw-up. Heads should roll. Take the A’s franchise from them, give them a Vegas expansion and make them pay 1/4 of the expansion fee for being jacka$$es
MLB Owners would be smart to BLOCK THE A’s MOVE to Las Vegas.
Otherwise, with revenue sharing and other issues,
MLB will be subsidizing the A’s in Las Vegas for decades or forever.
The SF BAY Area has a much larger, much richer economy than Las Vegas
with billions in annual GDP versus millions of annual GDP in Vegas.
The SF Bay Area is a 2 team market.
TV revenues are much higher in the SF Bay Area than in Las Vegas..
Tourists in Vegas will not be enough to carry the A’s and/or that new stadium.
The Raiders Las Vegas attendance for 8-9 games per year is very much on the low side
when compared to other NFL teams.
The Las Vegas locals do not frequent the strip unless they work there and then go straight home.
Multiple A’s stadium deals offered in the SF Bay Area were superior offers and plans to the proposed A;s Las Vegas stadium deal.
John Fischer does not have the credit or cash to even qualify for the Las Vegas stadium deal.
There is something very fishy about this proposed A’s Las Vegas deal.
If it goes through, then MLB might as well hire Pete Rose to be the face of and spokesman for MLB in Las Vegas and Nevada, since MLB’s integrity on the gambling issue would go right out the window with this Las Vegas deal.
I have question, if pitchers get progressively worse each time through the order, then why hasn’t anyone taken the analytics to the nth degree on this by just employing all 3 inning pitchers that would only face each guy once and turn it over to the next guy?
There a lots of advantages because you wouldn’t be shopping in the “rich” zone of competing for the stud free agent starter, everyone would know their schedule and be ready and confident because they know if they do their job they just have to pitch 3 innings and ideally you would be able to just schedule righty-lefty-righty-lefty or position them because of their differences like a high velocity guy to an off speed guy.
It seems like a half way measure to know this fact and to continue to battle it. That’s the definition of insanity!