The Oakland Athletics find themselves on the edge of discussions, regularly grappling with a lack of consistent competitiveness and a dwindling fanbase. While the team gained recognition through their emphatic run in the 70s and 80s, their performance on the field has been subpar in recent years.
As their lease expires after the 2024 MLB season, The A’s will probably move out of the Oakland Coliseum, their home since 1968. They will be relocating to Las Vegas in 2028, where a new stadium awaits them. However, a three-year gap between their lease expiration and the completion of their new Las Vegas ballpark poses a challenge. And The Green Elephants have yet to inform the MLB about their temporary home during this transition period.
Oakland Athletics’ next three years in Uncertainty
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USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale, took to his Twitter to break the news. He tweeted,?“The Oakland A’s have not submitted a proposal to MLB yet where they plan to play in the three years between the Oakland Coliseum lease expires and their new Las Vegas ballpark in 2028.”?As just a handful of regulation baseball stadiums are available for such purposes, it seems quite likely that The A’s may resort to utilizing one of their minor league stadiums in the meantime. This realistic approach would provide a logical solution given the limited alternatives.
The Oakland A's have not submitted a proposal to MLB yet where they plan to play in the three years between the Oakland Coliseum lease expires and their new Las Vegas ballpark in 2028.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 11, 2023
The relocation of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas would make them the third professional team to move out of Oakland. Having already experienced the departure of the Golden State Warriors and the Oakland Raiders, the city of Oakland now faces the void left by the Athletics’ imminent move. According to an NBC report, the MLB Commissioner confirmed The A’s relocation process. Manfred Jr. said,?“They have begun to submit information related to their relocation application. It?s not complete at this point.”?Manfred Jr. has been criticized a lot recently by the A’s fanbase, who have been protesting for a while now.
Protests by Oakland Athletics fans
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A group of The A’s fanbase has been putting pressure on the team’s owner, John Fisher, for him to sell the franchise in order to keep the team in the Bay Area. Chants of ‘sell the team’ were a highlight of the All-Star-Game. The ongoing protests and boycotts have also garnered a lot of support from current and former MLB players.
Fans continue to bear the brunt of Fisher’s decision and took to Twitter to rant about the move. One user wrote,?“Does John Fisher have a big backyard?”?While a fan disappointed by the team’s recent form tweeted, “They should just take a few years off.”
Read more: ?Real Pain?: Fans Stand Divided as Oakland Athletics? Las Vegas Move Gets a Major Boost
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As the MLB awaits the Athletics’ proposal and the city of Oakland prepares for a sports-less era, fans and enthusiasts can only hope that future developments will bring about a renaissance in Oakland’s sporting landscape. Whether it’s investing in improved facilities or nurturing a new wave of sporting talent, that will help the city reclaim its place in the realm of major league sports.
Watch this story: From “Worse Song Ever” To Revolution: Sensational Singer Teams Up With Oscar Winner Tom Hanks In Oakland A’s Fight Against Billionaire John Fisher!