Wolff Committed To Fremont Despite Approval To Look Elsewhere

Lew Wolff Says He Is Not Listening To Other Communities About A Possible Ballpark Deal

A's Owner Lew Wolff has been given clearance by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to explore other areas for a new stadium, even in Santa Clara County, California, which is currently part of Giants' territory, should ongoing efforts to build Cisco Field in Fremont, California, fall through. Wolff, however, remains committed to Fremont, even as the environmental review process for the privately-funded project has taken longer than expected, and the city council there has yet to approve the pact. "I think all these things will fall into place and the city council will vote and say, 'Yes you can go there,'" Wolff said. "It's just a matter of local constituencies delaying, and it's really not the city council. We feel pretty good where we're at today. I think by the middle of the year, we'll know whether we can do it or not." Selig last month wrote a letter to Wolff, also looking to spur political approval in Fremont, that reads in part, "I cannot stress enough that the need for the A's to have a viable and modern stadium is a paramount objective for your organization and for the game overall. The A's currently operate in one of the least desirable venues in Major League Baseball and it has placed your club at a serious disadvantage with respect to other clubs in the game" (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). Wolff: "What we've done, I think, is open up a door for the A's that's been closed. My priority really is Fremont. Other communities are all over us now because of this letter, but I'm not listening to them yet. I don't want to start this process all over again" (MLB.com, 1/14).