The ongoing MLB lockout has already played havoc with the Oakland A’s. Their planned fire sale was put on hold due to the transaction freeze, leaving the roster in limbo. As they are looking to slash payroll before the beginning of the season, having that time to get the best deals for their players would have been best.
That wait is going to continue. Despite what had seemed to be a good amount of progress on Monday, and hopes for an end to the lockout on Tuesday, nothing came through. The lockout has been extended, with the A’s front office still wondering when, or it, they will be able to make those moves.
Oakland A’s losing revenue from canceled games
That failure to come to an agreement now has a tangible impact upon the A’s as well. They will now lose the first two series of the season against the Angels and Tigers respectively. As both teams are looking to improve and compete in 2022, it would have been an interesting early measuring stick.
Even more importantly, both of those series were at the Coliseum. As commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that those games will not be made up, that involves six games of revenue at the stadium that the A’s will miss out on.
Yes, the Coliseum is not likely to be filled with fans outside of Opening Day. That is especially true if the fire sale takes place. But that is still ticket revenue and concession sales that the team will miss out on. And, if the current schedule remains in effect, they will have 81 road games against 75 home contests.
While the owners are to blame for the lockout, the way the schedule is set up, and those canceled games, are impacting teams disproportionately. The A’s are one of those teams who will miss out on two series at home, costing them even more money as games are canceled.
The Oakland A’s will lose their home games against the Angels and Tigers in the first week of the season. That could have a big impact on the 2022 season.