Oakland A's fans from the Bay Area are rallying together in an effort to keep their beloved team rooted in Oakland, and they're not going down without a fight.
With the potential deal to construct a new stadium for the A's in Las Vegas still very uncertain to go through Nevada's court, loyal fans, lawmakers, and even Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry are stepping up to show their support.
The 🐐 Stephen Curry on the importance of keeping the #Athletics in Oakland. pic.twitter.com/nFk6S2AxPb
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) June 6, 2023
The Oakland 68's, a nonprofit organization comprised of die-hard A's fans, is organizing a reverse boycott at the upcoming home game on Tuesday, June 13, against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays, coincidentally or not, are another low-budget organization, only in the absolute opposite trend and always willing to fight for winning instead of putting on putrid shows led by a horrific front office, presidency, and ownership such as that of the A's these days.
The aim of the 68's group is to pack the A's stadium (Oakland trails all MLB franchises in attendance not getting even close to hosting 9,000 fans on a daily basis and as they are the only team below an 11.5K figure) and send a clear message that there is a massive and devoted fan base that will not give up easily.
Anson Casanares, a board member of the Oakland 68's, told ABC7 that "If you're trying to move the team, we're not going down without a fight, and we're going to showcase our passion, our energy, we're going to have signs out."
The nonprofit has been raising funds to distribute thousands of shirts to fans attending the game. These shirts feature the word 'SELL' in simple-but-bold lettering, urging team owner John Fisher to consider selling the franchise.
The sentiment among the Oakland faithful is that owning a major league franchise should involve investing in it, and they believe new ownership could better serve the team and the community.
Chris Robbins, President of Save Oakland Sports and an A's season ticket holder, expressed confidence that the game on Tuesday will sell out all 50,000 seats. The most fans to ever attend a game at the Coliseum was 56,310 back in July 2018, nearly five years from now, which feels like a fever dream nowadays.
Robbins remains hopeful that the Las Vegas deal will fall apart, emphasizing that Oakland has already lost both the Warriors and the Raiders. He hopes that the people of Nevada will recognize the A's owner's substantial wealth and focus on securing public funding and support within their own community instead of taking another team away from Oakland.
The movement to keep the A's in Oakland extends beyond the fans. Congressmember Barbara Lee, representing Oakland, sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, urging him to reconsider the league's involvement in the relocation process.
Barbara Lee's full letter to MLB on their efforts to facilitate the relocation of the A's to Las Vegas: pic.twitter.com/mEy5aQUmOW
— Matt Ortega (@MattOrtega) June 7, 2023
Lee believes that MLB's encouragement of the A's departure from Oakland contradicts the rationale supporting the league's exemption from federal anti-trust law.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is also standing united with Congressmember Lee in her efforts to keep the team rooted in the city. In an exclusive interview, Mayor Thao expressed her desire for the A's to stay in Oakland, whether with the current ownership or under new ownership.
Support for the cause is spreading throughout the community. A large poster displaying the word "SELL" has been prominently displayed on a building near Jack London Square, where the A's offices are located.
Even NBA superstar Stephen Curry, who understands the significance of having something for the community to look forward to, is showing his support. Curry acknowledged that while the Warriors moved from Oakland to San Francisco, they remained in the area to continue serving the supportive fan base, and he hopes the A's will do the same.
The reverse boycott, the advocacy of local lawmakers, and the support from prominent figures like Stephen Curry reflect the determination of Oakland A's fans to preserve their team's presence in the city.
Everybody from the Bay Area (and beyond, don't let them fool you) is determined to fight for the team they love and for the community that cherishes them.