Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is “doubling down on her demand to keep the A’s name” and “angling for an expansion team next time MLB grows its ranks” after MLB unanimously approved the A's relocation to Las Vegas, according to Sarah Ravani of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Thao indicated that she has made clear to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred “that the A’s branding and name should stay in Oakland and we will continue to work to pursue expansion opportunities." She said in a statement, "Baseball has a home in Oakland even if the A’s ownership relocates.” Thao has previously said that the “only way the team could continue to play at the Coliseum, where their current lease expires in 2024, is if MLB agrees to the city’s demands” about the name and expansion. The Joint Powers Authority, the body overseeing the Oakland Coliseum, is made up of Oakland City Council members and Alameda County supervisors, and they “will ultimately decide on whether to extend the A’s lease” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/16). CBSSN's Adam Schein said, "I don’t want them taking the A’s name either. That should stay in Oakland forever” (“Time to Schein,” CBSSN, 11/16).
HAVE NAME, WILL TRAVEL: A's President Dave Kaval was asked about Thao’s demands, specifically if the club would be "willing to leave the name behind.” Kaval said the A’s “go all the way back to 1901” and have called Philadelphia, K.C. and Oakland as home. Kaval said, "The one thing that’s been constant in all those communities has been the name: Athletics and the A’s. And we see that continuing” (THE ATHLETIC, 11/16). MLB Network's Chris Young said he hopes the franchise keeps the A’s name, and that it leads to “some fans that carry over and come support them in Vegas” (“MLB Tonight,” MLB Network, 11/16).
FANS ALREADY PLANNING BOYCOTTS: In San Jose, Laurence Miedema reported several A’s fan club are calling on people to “not set foot in the Coliseum all season.” There is a “special boycott planned for Opening Night" -- a March 28 game against the Guardians. This would be the opposite of the “Reverse Boycott," when nearly 30,000 “enthusiastic fans jammed into the Coliseum for a Tuesday night game in June.” Organizers of the planned boycott said that they “envision thousands of fans gathering in the parking lot to tailgate and follow the game on TVs from outside the stadium.” Miedema noted that “asking fans to stay out of the seats all season -- likely the last in Oakland” -- will be a “huge test of wills and loyalty to the history of the franchise and the current players” (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 11/16). ESPN’s David Dennis said A’s fans "should not exist anymore" based on how they have been treated. Dennis: "They’ve been slapped in the face for years by John Fisher and they have talked about leaving that team and boycotting them. That should last more than this year. Let him figure out how to grow a fan base on his own" (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 11/16) Meanwhile, in S.F, Marisa Ingemi reported that the Oakland 68’s fan group is “challenging Giants season-ticket holders to email their ticket representatives to not allow any A’s home games at Oracle Park." The Giants' home park is seen as a potential interim home following the A’s lease expiration at the Coliseum (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/16).
DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU: In S.F., Scott Ostler wrote Fisher “waved bye-bye to Oakland, the city that crushed his cherished baseball dreams,” in a prepared statement that seemingly was “prepared by people who write commencement speeches, greeting cards and mattress tags.” Ostler wrote Fisher’s statement was “soulless and worthless,” especially the part about it being a “hard day” for him. Ostler: “Hard day? On the contrary. The news of the Industry’s vote in Texas should be cause for rejoicing in Oakland.” Oakland is “no longer held captive by the worst owner in baseball, if not in all sports.” Beyond next season, Oakland no longer must “endure the indignity of having the worst team in baseball.” Ostler wrote Oakland should demand that Fisher “sell his half of the Oakland Coliseum site” in return for a lease extension at the property. Ostler: “Give the Town a chance to develop that valuable property without Fisher gumming up the works” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/16).
DEAL EXISTS TO HELP BOTH PARTIES: In L.A., Bill Shaikin noted there is a “potential gold mine in developing the Coliseum property,” but he wondered if Fisher should be "striking it rich there, given at least the appearance that he would yank the A’s out of Oakland, then develop the Coliseum property and use the profits to help pay for the Las Vegas ballpark.” Fisher on Thursday would not commit to selling the land to Oakland, saying that he “hasn’t had the time to consider it.” Shaikin noted a “win-win outcome" for both the team and the city would be for Oakland to acquire “full ownership of the Coliseum site, to develop it in the best interest of the city” in exchange for a short-term lease for the A's to play there until the Las Vegas ballpark is ready (L.A. TIMES, 11/16).
FISHER BURNED THE MARKET: In D.C., Chelsea Janes wrote Thursday’s unanimous vote “was not a declaration that Oakland is not and cannot be a viable market for MLB.” It was instead a “reflection of the sense among owners and executives that Oakland was not going to be a viable market for a John Fisher-owned team.” Janes wrote “everyone in the sport agreed the Coliseum was too dilapidated to house an MLB franchise long term.” Additionally, Fisher insisted that “whatever funding the city was trying to provide for a new stadium was not enough to make things work.” To Oakland fans facing a “future without baseball after several demoralizing seasons under Fisher’s lead,” it probably will feel as if “no amount of money could have convinced him to stay” (WASHINGTON POST, 11/16).
CITY DESERVES SOME BLAME: MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian said the "completely bereft leadership in the city of Oakland has now allowed three pro sports franchises to bail within six years." Vasgersian: "Shame on Oakland first. ... They should have done everything humanly possible to keep the A’s. They didn’t and the A’s are leaving” (“Hot Stove,” MLB Network, 11/17).
