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Oakland A’s need to end charade with City of Oakland

By David Hill

DENVER, CO - JULY 29: An Oakland Athletics player's hat and glove rests in the dugout during interleague play between the Colorado Rockies and the Oakland Athletics at Coors Field on July 29, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 29: An Oakland Athletics player's hat and glove rests in the dugout during interleague play between the Colorado Rockies and the Oakland Athletics at Coors Field on July 29, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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The Oakland A’s are saying all the right things. They have been claiming that they want to remain in Oakland and are working with the city to get the Howard Terminal project to happen. There is some hope as the city and other associated agencies are slowly beginning to approve the project and secure funding, making it possible that this long saga could be coming to an end.

However, the A’s are also looking to relocate. They had been given permission by Major League Baseball to find a new home elsewhere if needed, leading to their interest in Las Vegas. The city is determined to add another league to their profile as both the NFL and NHL call Las Vegas home.

Oakland A’s leading on City of Oakland

It seems as though a major league team will be in Las Vegas one way or another. Either the A’s will relocate or an expansion franchise will eventually call the city home. If nothing else, the A’s are doing all the exploratory work for MLB when that time comes.

But it feels as though the A’s are doing more than the league’s exploratory work for them. They have placed a bid for a plot of land in Las Vegas to build a new stadium. While this is happening, they have expressed their satisfaction on how talks for the stadium in Oakland are progressing.

Contrary to what the Rays may think, it is impossible for a team to play in two cities at once. The A’s, unlike Tampa Bay/Montreal, also have not given any indication that this is their plan. Instead, they are playing the two sides against one another, hoping to find a way to spend as little as possible out of their own pocket on their new stadium.

Meanwhile, the A’s are acting like a franchise that has its sights set elsewhere. They have doubled ticket prices while getting rid of popular promotions and programs. At the same time, they have publically stated that they are looking to slash payroll because their billionaire owner cannot afford the salaries of their stars.

Quite simply, the A’s are acting as though they have already made up their minds. Their lease on the Coliseum ends after the 2024 season and they appear ready to depart for yet another city. They just are not making that official until they find out if their offer is accepted, leading on the City of Oakland and their fans.

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The Oakland A’s are saying all the right things about staying. However, they need to end the charade and stop leading the city on.