If you didn't grow up in Oakland, I don't think you'd understand. And you sound like one who is constantly an out of towner through your life, and that's not a knock on you. Most flatlanders don't leave Oakland and we have a very odd way of looking at things and those from outside our city, especially with how those not from here view us and the fact that economic and social gentrification is at war here. I grew up at a time when Oakland had a major rivalry with Richmond and that's a whole lot closer than San Jose. And don't get me started with how we feel about the folks from the "Oakland Hills".
It isn't insomuch how you look at it, its how we look at you, if that makes sense. No offense to you on any level. Travelling is good for the soul.
I hear you, and appreciate the insight. I didn't mean that like "it's all the same, who cares" or people aren't proud of where they are from within the area.
Your description very much reminds me of New York, where people don't leave their boroughs or neighborhoods (the Dodgers left Brooklyn because if they have to move to Queens, what's the difference?)
I meant that event attending is really easy in the arena due to the infrastructure. If you grow up in a different neighborhood, one without a stadium, you can just go to the stadium. Like, you've revealed your Oakland Roots (word play intended), and you're on a hockey board... I assume you've been to Sharks games? Just hop on BART, Uber a couple blocks, piece of cake.
That really shrinks the distance. (I was coming in from further way, so it would always be fun to see who gets on BART stops wearing jerseys when I went to Giants, As or Sharks games).
Ultimately, Sacramento is definitely a bridge too far for the A's. And the team leaving Oakland for anywhere but a different BART stop is absolutely horrible for baseball and the Bay Area.