A’s release renderings of new Las Vegas domed stadium that resembles famous Sydney Opera House

[Jeremiah]

Oakland has good leverage here because of all of the uncertainty surrounding the Vegas development (no private financing yet, the schools lawsuit, all of the things in the renderings that are flat impossible). Plus, MLB doesn’t want to be forced to engage the players association so they can play for three-plus years in MiLB ballparks. Sacramento is a PR nightmare because that displaces the Giants AAA team, pissing off the Giants and their fans even more than they already are. It also put SAC in the position to do to OAK what other cities we’re trying before the Kings were saved by new local ownership. There’s still the fact that Fisher loses his broadcast deal ($70M/yr) if the team leaves the area. What the city is asking for isn’t unreasonable considering, and it gives an opportunity for the local owner to buy the team from Fisher. I don’t think expansion is a real possibility unless they go to 32 and really realign things, but I like that they’re demanding that as well.

[Jeremiah]

This is what Oakland is proposing at their upcoming meeting with A’s management:

 

[CaliAngel]

So, as usual, after all that, they're just going to stay lol.

[Jeremiah]

Well, they need a place to play between now and 2028(!). MLB needs to know by within a month or so because they need to make next year’s schedule. The pressure is on the A’s and the city has a ton of leverage here. It might be even longer than three years because the final plans for the stadium here in Vegas haven’t even been drawn up. That’s why the 5-year option is even there. That’s plenty of time for things to change. The best options for the A’s would be to stay where they are, or move here next season, and play in Las Vegas Ballpark, which would move the Aviators back to Cashman Field for a couple of years. That’s already their AAA team, so it wouldn’t upset the Giants (SAC), or the Angels (SLC). They’d have to compensate the Aviators and the union, but MLB doesn’t want them in a random MiLB park anyway. It’s not a good look. I imagine the league will pressure Fisher to work with this deal and negotiate something pretty close to it. They need this done, and the clock is ticking.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

The latest is that the City of Oakland has approached the team with a five-year extension, with an opt out after the third year. The five year provision gives stability in case there are delays in the completion of the stadium on the Strip, or in the event that A's ownership manages to totally botch the entire relocation. Oakland has dropped their original demand that the owners leave the Athletics name and colors behind, and that MLB guarantee Oakland an expansion team (which wasn't going to happen).

The Tropicana Hotel closes for the final time at noon Tuesday. After that, demolition can begin.

Edited April 1 by Vegas Halo Fan

[Jeremiah]

2 hours ago, Vegas Halo Fan said:

The latest is that the City of Oakland has approached the team with a five-year extension, with an opt out after the third year. The five year provision gives stability in case there are delays in the completion of the stadium on the Strip, or in the event that A's ownership manages to totally botch the entire relocation. Oakland has dropped their original demand that the owners leave the Athletics name and colors behind, and that MLB guarantee Oakland an expansion team (which wasn't going to happen).

The Tropicana Hotel closes for the final time at noon Tuesday. After that, demolition can begin.

According to this report from NBC News Bay Area, and other local reporters, Oakland is still asking for all of those things. The meeting won’t take place until Tuesday.

 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

https://abc7news.com/oakland-to-present-athletics-ownership-with-lease-extension-document-confirms/14596305/#:~:text=OAKLAND%2C Calif.,and KGO in San Francisco.

The city is proposing the five-year lease with the opt-out after three to safeguard itself in case there are construction delays in Las Vegas or the deal falls through. According to the offer sheet obtained by ESPN and KGO-TV, the city has dropped previous requirements that called for MLB to keep the A's name and colors in Oakland, as well as a demand that MLB guarantee the city a future expansion team.

[Jeremiah]

The same article goes on to say the city will still ask for those very things: “In addition, the city is asking for a commitment from Major League Baseball on one of three options: (1) a one-year exclusive right to solicit ownership of a future expansion team; (2) vote to leave the A's colors and name in Oakland, or; (3) facilitate the sale of the A's to a local ownership group.”

[Vegas Halo Fan]

7 minutes ago, Jeremiah said:

The same article goes on to say the city will still ask for those very things: “In addition, the city is asking for a commitment from Major League Baseball on one of three options: (1) a one-year exclusive right to solicit ownership of a future expansion team; (2) vote to leave the A's colors and name in Oakland, or; (3) facilitate the sale of the A's to a local ownership group.”

So it has gone from a demand to an ask. Big difference. Plus MLB can choose one of the three, and not all. The only one that they have any shot of getting is #2. Given their lack of action for decades on the stadium situation and their poor attendance even when the team was winning, MLB isn't giving them preference in expansion. The owners have already voted unanimously to allow the team to leave - after Oakland again failed to act in a timely manner on Howard Terminal - so the local ownership boat has sailed as well.

 

Edited April 1 by Vegas Halo Fan

[arch stanton]

Maybe they should call Arizona State. They bailed out the Coyotes they can probably do the same for the A's

[Redondo]

Representatives of the Athletics' ownership met with officials from Oakland and Alameda County on Tuesday to discuss the city's most recent offer to keep the Las Vegas-bound team in the Coliseum at least through the 2027 season.

The negotiations, which took place in the team's offices, did not produce a resolution, and the Athletics are expected to meet with Sacramento officials Wednesday to hear their proposal to be the team's home for a minimum of three seasons beginning next year.

News of the Sacramento meeting was first reported by KGO-TV in San Francisco.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39863995/a-talk-oakland-officials-sacramento-meeting-tap

[T.G.]

@Vegas Halo Fan are you hoping the A's move to Las Vegas?  Or are you hoping for an expansion team?

[Jeremiah]

I think an expansion team would be a better success here. It would be embraced more fully by the community as a whole. I just look at the Golden Knights vs the Raiders. Bill Foley privately financed T-Mobile Arena, and was very proactive in communicating with the community about what the team would be. It was, and continues to be, the area’s favorite team by far. The Raiders were funded by legislative action. They knew we wouldn’t approve it by vote. They have no history here, and they don’t sell out. They rank 31st out of 32 teams in attendance numbers. An expansion team would work better. Plus, I’m not sure a baseball team can sellout 81 home dates. The A’s would need to do that in order to pay off the bonds.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

1 hour ago, Jeremiah said:

I think an expansion team would be a better success here. It would be embraced more fully by the community as a whole. I just look at the Golden Knights vs the Raiders. Bill Foley privately financed T-Mobile Arena, and was very proactive in communicating with the community about what the team would be. It was, and continues to be, the area’s favorite team by far. The Raiders were funded by legislative action. They knew we wouldn’t approve it by vote. They have no history here, and they don’t sell out. They rank 31st out of 32 teams in attendance numbers. An expansion team would work better. Plus, I’m not sure a baseball team can sellout 81 home dates. The A’s would need to do that in order to pay off the bonds.

To be fair, the Raiders' attendance ranking includes road games. Their home game average attendance is right at capacity.

[Redondo]

The Athletics appear close to severing ties with Oakland after 56 years and making a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento their interim home before the expected move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season.

The team met with Sacramento officials Wednesday. According to a report by Sacramento radio personality Dave Weiglein of Sactown Sports, the team will announce its decision to relocate either Thursday or Friday. If the move comes to fruition, the A's will share Sutter Health Park with the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A team, the RiverCats, for up to three seasons beginning next season. There was no indication the A's informed Oakland of their plans.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39871807/athletics-appear-close-making-sacramento-interim-home

[Jeremiah]

2 hours ago, Redondo said:

The Athletics appear close to severing ties with Oakland after 56 years and making a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento their interim home before the expected move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season.

The team met with Sacramento officials Wednesday. According to a report by Sacramento radio personality Dave Weiglein of Sactown Sports, the team will announce its decision to relocate either Thursday or Friday. If the move comes to fruition, the A's will share Sutter Health Park with the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A team, the RiverCats, for up to three seasons beginning next season. There was no indication the A's informed Oakland of their plans.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39871807/athletics-appear-close-making-sacramento-interim-home

Vivek Renadive is a scumbag for this. He came in and saved the Kings from leaving for Seattle in 2013, only to now pave the way through his town for the A’s to leave Oakland. NBC Sports must have caved on the broadcast deal as well, still giving Fisher some money, or else this wouldn’t be a possibility.

[Taylor]

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/as-officially-leaving-oakland-after-2024-will-play-in-sacramento-through-2027-until-vegas-stadium-is-ready/