One MLB owner said that the A’s plan to relocate to Las Vegas as early as 2028 is set to “easily pass” -- 75% approval is needed, or 23 of the 30 owners -- a “major step” for owner John Fisher to relocate the team, according to John Shea of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The owner said it “looks like a done deal,” adding he thought “they’ve got everything lined up.” Fisher’s relocation application, which he submitted in August, moved from a three-man relocation committee to the eight-man executive council, and ultimately Fisher “gave his recommendation to 30 owners to approve the move to Las Vegas.” Another source said that Fisher “has a ballpark financing plan and renderings,” both of which have not been made available to the public. But what is “missing” is where the A’s “would play in the interim years” starting in 2025 after the Coliseum lease expires. In the meantime, the Oakland 68s fan group “made its presence felt” in the lobby of the Live! by Loews hotel ahead of the vote. Oakland 68s Leader Jorge Leon said the group is “not going to go out quietly from the fans’ perspective.” Throughout this past season, the fan group “organized various fan protests during the season” and handed out green “SELL” shirts during the reverse boycott at the Coliseum in June. Yesterday the group funded a plane to fly with a message on a banner -- “A’S BELONG IN OAKLAND -- #VOTENO” -- over the hotel (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/14).
EMPTY WORDS: In a separate piece, Shea reported Fisher “made a point to approach three A’s fans in the hotel lobby bar” at the owners’ meetings for a “brief conversation” last night. Fisher told three A’s fans outfitted in green “STAY” shirts he “just want[ed] to let you know I appreciate you guys being here, I appreciate the passion you have shown.” He then explained to the fans that he “has spent 18 years trying to get a new venue for the A’s -- dating to the ill-fated San Jose efforts” -- and added, “All that time it’s been a lot worse for me than it’s been for you” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/14). USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale reported that when Fisher departed, the trio said that they “definitely appreciated that Fisher would take the time to speak with them for five minutes,” but reiterated they “still have issues with the man.” Fan Jared Isham said, “Everyone says he’s very genuine, which is true, but I don’t believe anything he said. I commend him for actually facing people that are protesting. But there’s only three of us. He had his security. At the same time, he could have just ignored us. So I will give him slight credit for that.” Gabriel Cullen, who was also part of the conversation, said he was “happy he came and talked to us,” but at the same time, “it's sad it took 18 years for him to talk to A’s fans. That’s one of our biggest problems is we don’t have any connection with him" (USA TODAY, 11/14).
ANOTHER CHALLENGE: In Las Vegas, Mick Akers noted a nonprofit group “plans to file a lawsuit to overturn the Oakland Athletics stadium funding bill,” Senate Bill 1, saying that it “features multiple violations of the state constitution.” Schools Over Stadiums, a political action committee created by the Nevada State Education Association, said that there are “five issues with the bill that puts it in violation of the constitution” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/14).
