There are two primary reasons why I haven’t been vocal about the Oakland Athletics’ stadium situation:
- I have a deeply biased perspective, one filled with mixed emotions about any proposed new home for the A’s, and
- There hasn’t been much significant news on the topic since MLB Commissioner Bud Selig created a committee over two years ago to help the A’s find a new ballpark.
In short, the A’s are in a frustrating holding pattern, unable to make meaningful future plans, whether financial or personnel-based, until this committee reaches a decision. And that could take a while. In fact, we’ve heard nothing in months—no progress, no updates, no breakthroughs. It’s left us in limbo.
Let me be upfront: I am emotionally tied to this issue. I grew up just five minutes away from the Oakland Coliseum, which has now unfortunately been renamed O.Co Coliseum. I’ve been a lifelong A’s fan, attending countless games and, frankly, can’t even remember my first one. To me, Oakland A’s baseball has always been a cornerstone of my life. The thought of losing that, or seeing the team move elsewhere, feels like a betrayal.
Yet, here we are, with no clarity, and I’ve been hesitant to say anything. But let’s dive into the reality of the situation.
THE SETUP: A Tale of Promises and Disappointments
Back in 2005, the A’s were sold to a group led by now-part-owner and managing partner Lew Wolff. His pitch was clear: the A’s needed a new stadium to remain competitive, to generate more revenue, and to better serve the fans. So, Wolff made a promise to bring a new home for the team and their supporters.
The initial plan was to build Cisco Field in Fremont, a city about 40 minutes south of the Oakland Coliseum. Back then, I was young and idealistic, thinking that such a move wasn’t just unnecessary—it was almost insulting to the city of Oakland. However, over the years, I’ve come to understand the complexities behind the decision.
Fremont, however, didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat, and the deal fell through. The A’s were left searching for a new location, and suddenly, there was a collective sigh of relief from Oakland’s residents who thought, “We might get to keep the A’s.”
But instead of pursuing a solution within Oakland, Lew Wolff and the A’s began looking towards San Jose as a potential new home. This is where things started to get tricky, and while it irks me to even suggest it, I can’t ignore the fact that San Jose would undoubtedly support an MLB team with open arms. After all, San Jose is California’s third-most populous city, housing nearly a million people—more than double the population of Oakland.
San Jose is a city that already has a demonstrated love for sports, especially with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. If the city can enthusiastically support an NHL team, I have no doubt they would embrace a Major League Baseball team with the same fervor. It seemed like a no-brainer—San Jose would be an ideal home for the A’s. But then, there was a major roadblock.
TURF WARS: The Giants’ Stranglehold
You see, there’s a problem when it comes to territorial rights. The San Francisco Giants currently control the territorial rights to San Jose, meaning they have exclusive rights over this market. This has put a significant roadblock in front of the A’s and their quest for a new stadium.
In many other major sports markets, like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, territorial lines are drawn much more evenly. For example, the New York Mets and New York Yankees share the city without any major territorial issues. But the Bay Area is a different story.
The Giants are not willing to relinquish their claim to San Jose. And frankly, it’s hard to blame them. They’ve been the dominant force in the region for decades, and having the entire South Bay as their territory has been a huge asset. But in my mind, this territorial dispute is doing a disservice to both teams and their fans. A real rivalry could emerge, benefiting both the A’s and the Giants, if the A’s were allowed to move to San Jose. But that’s not how it’s playing out right now.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Oakland’s Dilemma
The resistance from Oakland’s fans to a potential move is understandable. After all, this is the team’s home. The A’s have played in Oakland for over 40 years. But, from a business perspective, I get why Lew Wolff might look elsewhere. The franchise needs to grow, and Oakland simply might not provide the resources or infrastructure to do so.
But Wolff’s approach hasn’t exactly helped the situation. He’s repeatedly said that Oakland is unwilling to support the A’s moving forward, and that the city’s fans aren’t loyal enough. And you know what? That might be true. Attendance has been poor in recent years, and there’s been a general sense of apathy.
However, Wolff has contributed to this issue. You can’t keep saying that you want out of Oakland and expect the fans to embrace you. If you’re constantly telling them that you don’t want to be there, why should they continue supporting the team? Even something as simple as fan appreciation day was replaced with a much smaller, lackluster BBQ. This didn’t sit well with the fanbase.
There’s an inherent irony here. Wolff has made it clear he wants to leave, but then he complains about the lack of fan support. How can you expect loyalty when you’re actively working to remove the team from its home? It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, and it’s difficult not to feel frustrated by the whole ordeal.
THE WAITING GAME: Bud Selig’s Committee
Two years ago, Bud Selig, the MLB commissioner at the time, formed a three-man committee to help decide the future of the A’s. And here we are, two years later, still waiting for any sort of resolution. The A’s cannot move forward with any major plans—whether it’s financial decisions or player personnel decisions—until the committee makes a decision.
The lack of progress has left everyone in a state of uncertainty. Fans are frustrated, the A’s management is frustrated, and even the city of Oakland is at a loss. It seems like everyone involved is stuck in a waiting game. It’s hard to keep hope alive when the situation doesn’t seem to be moving forward.
Personally, I would love to see the A’s remain in Oakland. I have a deep emotional attachment to the team and the city. But my head tells me that a move to San Jose might be the best thing for the future of the franchise. San Jose offers a larger market, more potential revenue, and a fanbase that would support an MLB team in a way Oakland currently struggles to do.
Still, no decision has been made, and it’s unclear when that will happen. The waiting continues, and it’s taking its toll on everyone involved.
MONEYBALL: A Legacy Beyond Baseball
While we’re on the topic of the A’s, let’s take a brief detour into another non-baseball issue: Moneyball.
The book and the movie captured the essence of the A’s during a golden era of baseball when General Manager Billy Beane revolutionized the sport by focusing on advanced metrics and undervalued players. It was a thrilling time, and the movie captured it perfectly. However, the impact of Moneyball is lessened today. Most of the strategies Beane pioneered have been widely adopted by other teams, and even Beane himself has moved on from many of those tactics.
That said, the Moneyball movie is still an enjoyable watch for any A’s fan. Despite the lack of championships during the Beane era, the story of how the A’s revolutionized the sport is something I’ll always cherish.
What’s Next?
As we wait for the committee’s decision, I’ll continue to reflect on what could be next for the A’s. Should they remain in Oakland, should they move to San Jose, or should they leave the Bay Area entirely? Only time will tell.
One thing’s for sure: the A’s need closure. The fans deserve closure. MLB needs to make a decision soon, as this prolonged period of uncertainty is hurting the team, the fans, and the city of Oakland. It’s time to make a move.
Until then, we can only hope for a resolution and hold out hope that the A’s find a place to call home, whether that’s in Oakland, San Jose, or somewhere else entirely. Whatever happens, I’ll always be an A’s fan, and I’m ready to see what the future holds for this storied franchise.