After 55 years of staying in Oakland and becoming an iconic part of that city, the Oakland Athletics have now decided to move to Las Vegas. Amidst big fan protests, the owners voted in support of moving from the city. With this, the Swingin A’s have swung out of the Coliseum, once a place they called home. This had been coming for months with fans going as far as attending en mass every game of the team to show their anger. Now that even after their big movements, the owners have stayed firm in their decision; the fans are highly upset.
Oakland has seen quite a few unique protests for Athletics. Though the reasons for moving are many, the biggest was said to be a lack of support. The fans are currently expressing the significance of the team to them, while some are relieved that the owners have ultimately relocated the team from the city. What transpired during the meeting that led to this decision?
Oakland Athletics owners finally make the move
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Months ago, it was first reported that the A’s were looking to change their home. Amidst poor performances, the owners felt that the team was not getting the desired support from the city. On hearing this, the local city people began to fill the stadium in different games. This was done to show that the team had support. It was the ownership that was letting it down. With the protests reaching a fever pitch, one wondered whether the ownership would back down or not. Clearly, they didn’t. It has now been revealed that they are, in fact, moving to Las Vegas.
Owners have unanimously voted to move the Oakland A?s to Las Vegas, per @BNightengale pic.twitter.com/OsDhd4ZtN4
— Talkin? Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 16, 2023
The owners held a meeting on Thursday and decided to vote for the future of this legendary franchise. They were unanimous in their opinion that the time has come to shift bases. After months of deliberation and negotiations between Oakland and the A’s, the owners decided that the city was not ready to give in to their demands. Las Vegas was waiting with open arms to greet them. So this will be the third time the team has changed its location. First, it was in Philadelphia, then Kansas, and finally in Oakland.
The news has received mixed reactions from fans. While the decision did not surprise most fans, few were quite upset with it. And there were others who wondered if this would even change anything for the A’s or not.
Swinging reactions of the Swingin’ A’s fans
Just as the news was dropped, the fans quickly took to social media to share their opinion on the matter. Opinions ranged from calm and collected responses to extreme emotions.
This fan just couldn’t believe what had happened and went quite emotional in his response.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
— Pickett to Pickens for life ??? (@WolfTrout1) November 16, 2023
This news did not surprise this fan.
that's probably the least surprising thing to ever happen in baseball
— Jurassic (@jurassicimpact1) November 16, 2023
The Oakland people got a sympathetic message from a Washington baseball fan who faced a similar situation once.
Sad for the people of Oakland. Having been a Washington Senators fan in my youth, and waiting decades for baseball to return here, I know how they?re feeling today?
— Brian Del Buono (@gr8day4bsbll) November 16, 2023
Fans consider it to be a dark day of baseball with a team with such an excellent history leaving its home after 55 years.
Dark day in MLB history. A?s playing anywhere but Oakland is just wrong for the game. So much history there.
— SENS TALK (@senstalk_) November 16, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
And finally, this fan made a comment on how Oakland keeps losing teams to Las Vegas. They’ve already lost Oakland Raiders to Vegas and now even the A’s are going there.
akland just keep losing teams to las vegas lol
— Berto (@Sankinito2oo8) November 16, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
So with this ends the saga of A’s in Oakland. Will the city see another team soon? They’ve lost three of their big teams. How much more pain will the sports fans in Oakland face? The biggest question though is whether this will have any effect on the on-field activities of the Athletics.
Watch this story:?From Black Betsy To Wonder Boy: Baseball?s Most Iconic Bats