Athletics President re: keeping the team in Oakland

[OCGuy81]

Is Oakland about to lose another franchise to Las Vegas?  Possibly.

Athletics president says they'll pay for the park at the Waterfront. All Oakland has to do is put tax incentive zones, and develop the surrounding area.  The team can leave for places like Vegas, Nashville, or Portland if the city of Oakland does not act right away and votes this project in.

Interview by ABC's Larry Beil.

http://abc7news.com/sports/as-president-explains-what-it-will-take-to-keep-team-in-oakland/10616234/

[thspfc]

For the A's sake I hope they move to Vegas. The Raiders have already benefitted hugely from moving.

[Alps]

Vegas can't support MLB, much larger crowds over a much longer time than the other sports. Charlotte, to me, makes the most sense, or San Antonio (always overlooked).

[JayhawkCO]

I think I'd vote for Nashville for the place that makes the most sense.

Chris

[OCGuy81]

I think I'd vote for Nashville for the place that makes the most sense.

Chris

It seems like it'd be a good fit. I don't think that would encroach too much on the Braves fan base.

[texaskdog]

I'd get the two florida teams out to sunnier pastures as well

[Roadgeekteen]

Is there really a market for two MLB teams in the Bay Area?

[texaskdog]

Is there really a market for two MLB teams in the Bay Area?

I'm thinking most people who live there don't routinely cross the bridge to do things.

[kevinb1994]

I'm definitely interested in seeing if the A's actually end up moving back east but to Charlotte (how about the Townies) or Nashville (the Stars are an idea). This will be interesting for both MiLB (there was once a team called the Athletic Baseball Club in the old Southern League of Colored Base Ballists, and Connie Mack was here during the early years of MiLB) and World Series (given that they will not be TOO far from the Braves, who once had a MiLB team here also called the Braves, whose legacy lives on at Terry Parker High in the Arlington area–there was also a Negro Major League team called the Red Caps, Red Caps being one of the old names of the team now since known as the Braves) purposes if the move does happen.

[Max Rockatansky]

If the Athletics move they definitely do not need a change of name.  The name literally fits for any city and has been in use since 1901. 

[Max Rockatansky]

Is there really a market for two MLB teams in the Bay Area?

I'm thinking most people who live there don't routinely cross the bridge to do things.

Despite being close the Oakland and San Francisco are very different places.  The fanbases don't have a ton of crossover traditionally.  It was actually somewhat controversial when the Warriors moved from Oakland since a lot of people thought that was a betrayal of the fan base. 

[NWI_Irish96]

Is there really a market for two MLB teams in the Bay Area?

There is if you put one of them in the South Bay, but the Giants do not want the A's going down there. I believe they have the right to block that move.

[Stephane Dumas]

Is there really a market for two MLB teams in the Bay Area?

To think there was a time when St. Louis used to have 2 MLB teams. The Cardinals and the Browns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_St._Louis_Browns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvopzY0Qy4o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC_dpKONlhg

Doubtful then the A's would move to Montreal, it'll be a miracle if they move there.

[JayhawkCO]

Tampa is likely going to Montreal in the near future.

Chris

[FightingIrish]

For the A's sake I hope they move to Vegas. The Raiders have already benefitted hugely from moving.

Vegas wouldn't work with those hot summers. Charlotte makes the most sense.

[NWI_Irish96]

Anyplace the A's go other than Montreal, there is going to be at least one team that will see it as territorial infringement. Even places like Las Vegas and Charlotte, which aren't really close to another team, the Dodgers (and to a lesser extent the Angels) and the Braves are going to lose TV viewers to the A's.

[bing101]

Does Austin, TX count as a candidate for getting the A's or not. I know Austin, TX has been getting attention here in California because some of the Tech CEO's and VC leaders have been talking about leaving CA for Texas for some time though. But that may not translate necessarily for MLB teams moving though.

[Henry]

I just realized something: This would be the fourth time (IIRC) that one city gained multiple franchises from another, with Oakland getting the A's and Warriors from Philadelphia (although they were via Kansas City and San Francisco, respectively), Atlanta getting the Braves and Hawks from Milwaukee (with the second one via St. Louis), and recently, Los Angeles getting the Clippers and Chargers from San Diego.

[OCGuy81]

For the A's sake I hope they move to Vegas. The Raiders have already benefitted hugely from moving.

Vegas wouldn't work with those hot summers. Charlotte makes the most sense.

True, but Arizona has a team.

[JayhawkCO]

For the A's sake I hope they move to Vegas. The Raiders have already benefitted hugely from moving.

Vegas wouldn't work with those hot summers. Charlotte makes the most sense.

True, but Arizona has a team.

And if they went to Vegas, I would assume they'd probably have a dome (retractable or not).

Chris

[texaskdog]

I just realized something: This would be the fourth time (IIRC) that one city gained multiple franchises from another, with Oakland getting the A's and Warriors from Philadelphia (although they were via Kansas City and San Francisco, respectively), Atlanta getting the Braves and Hawks from Milwaukee (with the second one via St. Louis), and recently, Los Angeles getting the Clippers and Chargers from San Diego.

The USFL LA Express we're originally supposed to play in San Diego but it never happened. 

[triplemultiplex]

I don't like professional sports in Las Vegas simply on principle.  Remember how gambling was such a scourge that to associate your sports league with it was to indelibly stain the sport?  The Black Sox; Pete Rose; all that shit?

Well never mind that, welcome to opening day of the Las Vegas Athletics brought to you by Draft Kings and the fucking Mirage!
Ha, ha!  We're so desperate to increase viewership that we'll embrace degenerate gamblers now!

[JayhawkCO]

I don't like professional sports in Las Vegas simply on principle.  Remember how gambling was such a scourge that to associate your sports league with it was to indelibly stain the sport?  The Black Sox; Pete Rose; all that shit?

Well never mind that, welcome to opening day of the Las Vegas Athletics brought to you by Draft Kings and the fucking Mirage!
Ha, ha!  We're so desperate to increase viewership that we'll embrace degenerate gamblers now!

If you like betting on hockey, it's great to bet against the Knights since they get artificially inflated lines from the locals betting on their own team.

Chris

[NWI_Irish96]

I don't like professional sports in Las Vegas simply on principle.  Remember how gambling was such a scourge that to associate your sports league with it was to indelibly stain the sport?  The Black Sox; Pete Rose; all that shit?

Well never mind that, welcome to opening day of the Las Vegas Athletics brought to you by Draft Kings and the fucking Mirage!
Ha, ha!  We're so desperate to increase viewership that we'll embrace degenerate gamblers now!

Professional athletes make so much now that there is little risk of Vegas players being on the take. Plus sports betting is now legal in many other states where there are teams.

[Alps]

Does Austin, TX count as a candidate for getting the A's or not. I know Austin, TX has been getting attention here in California because some of the Tech CEO's and VC leaders have been talking about leaving CA for Texas for some time though. But that may not translate necessarily for MLB teams moving though.

I mentioned San Antonio because it's still a much larger metro area than Austin, but a stadium on the north side would draw from both.