The A's want to develop the Coliseum site to help pay for a new ballpark at Howard TerminalGETTY IMAGES
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred "made it clear to Oakland officials that the A's proposed waterfront ballpark and the team's desire to develop" the RingCentral Coliseum land is an "'all in one' proposition -- and that the city needs to drop its lawsuit over the Coliseum land sale to the A's or risk the team relocating," according to Phil Matier of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Oakland City Council member Larry Reid said Manfred "laid down the law." Matier noted the A's want to "develop the 155-acre site to help pay for a privately financed ballpark they are proposing to build at Howard Terminal." But the "prospect of a showdown with MLB as the legal fight unfolds is increasing pressure on the city." Reid said that Manfred told city officials that the A's "have options elsewhere if the city doesn't change its stance." Reid said, "The commissioner pointed out that Bay Area fans will soon be going to Las Vegas to see the Raiders and that unless things changed, Bay Area fans may be going to Las Vegas or elsewhere to see the A's as well" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/6).
NO SIGNS, YET: In Las Vegas, Bill Eichenberger notes both Henderson and Las Vegas in recent months have "entered non-disclosure agreements to discuss the possible relocation" of the D-backs to Nevada. The A's are also the "parent ballclub" for the Triple-A PCL Las Vegas Aviators, who recently built a new ballpark in Summerlin. However, there has been "no evidence of the A's making overtures to relocate to Nevada" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/7).
FISHING FOR MORE INFO: In S.F., Scott Ostler wrote the A's ballpark situation is "complicated," so Managing Partner John Fisher "should step up and answer a few questions to help A's fans and Oakland citizens understand why they've been jerked around for a couple decades and and why that jerking might end soon." Ostler: "One question: If you need funds from a Coliseum development to fund the Howard Terminal development, won't you need a third real-estate development to fund the Coliseum development? And then a fourth development to fund the third development, and so on?" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/6).
