In the midst of the Oakland Athletics potentially relocating to Las Vegas, and with fans desperately urging the team to stay put, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has addressed the situation. Owner John Fisher, a billionaire, has successfully secured a $380 million bill for a new stadium at the Tropicana Hotel site on the Las Vegas strip through a Nevada Senate vote.
On the other hand, fans have staged a “reverse boycott” at the Oakland Coliseum, filling the previously empty seats with one message: “Sell the team.” Manfred expressed sympathy for A’s fans in Oakland but does not seem apologetic about the imminent relocation.
Manfred explained, “I feel sorry for the fans in Oakland. I do not like this outcome. I understand why they feel the way they do. I think the real question is, what is it Oakland was prepared to do? There is no Oakland offer. OK? They never got to a point where they had a plan to build a stadium at any site. And it’s not just John Fisher. … The community has to provide support. At some point, you come to the realization it’s just not going to happen.”
Oakland’s Mayor, Sheng Thao, has stated that a waterfront project at the Howard Terminal site is close to a deal. However, Fisher would need to sell the team for this to happen. In response to Manfred’s comments, the Mayor’s Office issued a statement, refuting Manfred’s claims and emphasizing the efforts made by Oakland to accommodate the team’s needs for a new stadium.
Fans have been making concerted efforts to keep the team in Oakland, but MLB owners intend to approve the A’s relocation plan to Vegas, pending the approval of the Nevada Assembly. The assembly, consisting of a 42-person group, will need a majority vote to send the bill to Gov. Joe Lombardo, a supporter of bringing another professional sports franchise to Las Vegas.
While fans packed the Oakland Coliseum and expressed their discontent by chanting “Sell the team!” and wearing T-shirts with the same message, Oakland had previously suffered from the lowest MLB attendance per game this season. The A’s have been on a downward trajectory since the 2020 season, and currently possess the worst record in baseball despite a recent win streak.
Despite the resistance from fans, it seems likely that the team will be moving to Las Vegas, as the A’s ownership appears content with a smaller, leased ballpark in the city. The situation has raised questions about the commitment of the community and the efforts made to keep the team in Oakland.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
