Trust in Dave Kaval eroding amongst Oakland A’s fanbase

When Dave Kaval was named as the Oakland A’s team president, he had a difficult job in front of him. The A’s were embroiled in an ongoing battle to get their new stadium, as the Coliseum was becoming more of a disaster seemingly every week. He needed to tap into the energy of the fans, as they watched player after player depart while ownership would not open the vault. Kaval certainly had a challenge in front of him.

For a while, he made all the right moves. The tarps were removed from the upper decks. The Treehouse and Treehouse Pass were improved. Food trucks were added. Kaval became a public figure on Twitter and would interact with fans. He even promised that a new stadium would be built, directing a great deal of effort toward the Howard Terminal project.

Trust in Dave Kaval starting to dissipate

As he has a background in marketing, Kaval knew just what to say and how to say it. He fed into the hopes of the A’s fanbase, with the #RootedInOakland campaign, coming after the Raiders had left for Los Angeles, proving to be a rousing hit. But there was one area that had not been delivered upon – that new stadium.

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At this point, it is unclear as to whether or not that stadium will happen in Oakland. The city and the team are squabbling about funding, and with a vote scheduled for July 20, the odds do not look good for the Howard Terminal Project. Meanwhile, the A’s have been publically courting Las Vegas, perhaps as a negotiating tactic, or in a true attempt to leave Oakland behind.

Kaval, meanwhile, has gone forth and begun to air his grievances about the Bay Area. He has complained about how the A’s do not receive equal coverage in the media. He pointed out the issues with BART after the game on July 2. Disagreements with the Oakland City Council have been made public in an attempt to sway opinion.

Meanwhile, that act is starting to wear thin. The A’s fanbase was already somewhat disgruntled with the team after their moves during the offseason, particularly in the way that Marcus Semien left the organization. Trust in ownership, and Kaval in particular, is fading fast.

Maybe everything can be salvaged. Maybe the A’s will get their wish, and the City of Oakland will move forward with their proposal. If so, Kaval would have kept that promise as well, showing that he can deliver on what he says will happen. But he needs to deliver soon.

Trust in Oakland A’s president Dave Kaval is fading fast. The ongoing squabbles with the City of Oakland about the new ballpark are not helping the cause.