Oakland Athletics relocation to Las Vegas thread: Move to Vegas approved by MLB owners - Will play in Sacramento for 3-4 years

[KevFu]

Manfred has made it clear he wants nothing to do with Oakland. He’s been outright disrespectful to the city and fans through this entire process. I really doubt any provisions will be included if (or when) the move happens.

To be fair, it's been the same thing with three different A's owners, three different MLB commissioners, and countless city officials.

Like, you threaten to leave if you don't get a new stadium when your lease is up. That happened for the first time in 1988.

What's happening in Oakland is exactly what happened to the Islanders from 1985 until UBS Arena.

And what's happening in Oakland is the same thing that's happening in Nassau County: "We can't spend money building things because we have bigger problems..." Maybe built something where people want to go and spend money there, and that will help turn things around.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

I know enough about Las Vegas to know it's pure hubris to live there. Look, I get the bill of goods they sold people to relocate there. It's expanding, great. Who cares if it's sustainable, amirite.

Have fun with all the water disputes with your neighbor states who actually own the access to said water if you have a mortgage.

And to be fair, I assume as a Bruins fan you moved west to Las Vegas, I am honestly wondering what drew you there? Especially if you aren't retired and don't have to care about the sustainability of operating a city that size in the desert.

I wonder if the same thing will happen with Phoenix in the next 20 years.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

1.5 billion for a new stadium?! Texas just built their retractable roof domed stadium for 1 billion a couple years ago. A likely smaller stadium capacity in Vegas is going to cost $500 million more just a few years later?! If the proposal is for a retractable roof, just make it fixed dome as that would likely knock a hundred million off the final tab...and go for 36,000- 37,000 fixed seats with room for another 4,000 - 5,000 standing room spots directly behind the seats in the lower bowl and in a large plaza area in the outfield beyond the bleachers. I'm sure that could bring down the price a little bit as well.

 

[Unholy Diver]

1.5 billion for a new stadium?! Texas just built their retractable roof domed stadium for 1 billion a couple years ago. A likely smaller stadium capacity in Vegas is going to cost $500 million more just a few years later?! If the proposal is for a retractable roof, just make it fixed dome as that would likely knock a hundred million off the final tab...and go for 36,000- 37,000 fixed seats with room for another 4,000 - 5,000 standing room spots directly behind the seats in the lower bowl and in a large plaza area in the outfield beyond the bleachers. I'm sure that could bring down the price a little bit as well.

It is reportedly only a 30K seater to begin with

I would say this is a combination of inflation and things costing more in Vegas than in Texas

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

1.5 billion for a new stadium?! Texas just built their retractable roof domed stadium for 1 billion a couple years ago. A likely smaller stadium capacity in Vegas is going to cost $500 million more just a few years later?! If the proposal is for a retractable roof, just make it fixed dome as that would likely knock a hundred million off the final tab...and go for 36,000- 37,000 fixed seats with room for another 4,000 - 5,000 standing room spots directly behind the seats in the lower bowl and in a large plaza area in the outfield beyond the bleachers. I'm sure that could bring down the price a little bit as well.

Well the land alone just cost them $1 billion

 

[KevFu]

1.5 billion for a new stadium?! Texas just built their retractable roof domed stadium for 1 billion a couple years ago. A likely smaller stadium capacity in Vegas is going to cost $500 million more just a few years later?!

It's not JUST the roof. It's the HVAC system.

With both having retractable roofs, Houston stadium was HALF of what Arizona's stadium cost....

Because Texas teams are cooling from 95 degrees, and Phoenix and Vegas are cooling from 115 degrees.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

It's not JUST the roof. It's the HVAC system.

With both having retractable roofs, Houston stadium was HALF of what Arizona's stadium cost....

Because Texas teams are cooling from 95 degrees, and Phoenix and Vegas are cooling from 115 degrees.

True, but unlike Phoenix and LV, it ain't a dry heat in Houston so in some ways it can be just as uncomfortable.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Well the land alone just cost them $1 billion

And they’re asking for another 500 million from the taxpayers.

Also, a binding contract doesn’t mean they’ve actually paid for it yet.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

What if I told you Oakland could break up with John Fisher but keep the A's?

Were last week’s negotiations between the Oakland Athletics sabotaged because they...

www.sfchronicle.com

“There are indeed parallel paths on the journey of the happy-feet Oakland Athletics. I don’t want to get your hopes too high, A’s fans, but one of the paths just might lead from Oakland to Las Vegas — and then back to Oakland.

That’s right. According to a City Hall source, all the agonizing negotiations over a new ballpark and village at Howard Terminal might be part of a grand plan by team owner John Fisherand team president Dave Kaval to sell the team.”

And one of my favorite quotes ever lol

Here’s a term my source used to describe Fisher’s secret plan: pump and dump.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Follow up on my last post:



Fisher can then raise his Forbes score of 2 out of 10 AND finally say he earned some money all on his own!

 

[KevFu]

True, but unlike Phoenix and LV, it ain't a dry heat in Houston so in some ways it can be just as uncomfortable.

You're totally right on comfort, but that isn't a construction cost factor like dropping the temp 40 degrees is.

The DBacks built their place to have AC with the roof OPEN. Their HVAC is insane. It actually isn't the DBacks/Chase Field HVAC... it's a massive system underground that serves FORTY buildings in downtown.

This is why I think the DBacks should renovate heavily instead of building a new park. The location is great, the HVAC is great... The roof is NOT great, but they don't really have a reason to open it from June on, anyway. It's 89 at 7 pm today, and it's April 23rd. You get a month when you could have the roof open.

I strongly agree with the poster who said that Vegas should just go full indoor for the A's instead of retractable roof.

You look at the warm-weather retractable stadiums (HOU, ARZ, TEX, HOU, MIA) and they average 12 times open a year (for data I found), and 59 times closed per year.

So why spend money building something that opens? Just play inside for 12 more games and save hundreds of millions.

And they’re asking for another 500 million from the taxpayers.

Also, a binding contract doesn’t mean they’ve actually paid for it yet.

Also, owning land doesn't mean they have to move. They can sell the land. They own land rights at the Coliseum site right now as well.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

Follow up on my last post:



Fisher can then raise his Forbes score of 2 out of 10 AND finally say he earned some money all on his own!

#FisherOut

 

[MMC]

 

[EpochLink]

Look at this bitch ass *****

 

[KevFu]

I'm staunchly in favor of the A's remaining in Oakland, and I understand the desire of fans to blame someone for the situation.

But there's so much blame to go around that blaming one person or group is just silly.

The average lifespan of MLB stadiums that have opened since 1950 is 32-37 years (depending on how you want to count current ones).

The Coliseum SHOULD HAVE been replaced between 1998 and 2003. Getting past 2010 without a new stadium is ridiculous and far past the point where any sane owner would stay there.

And Fisher's the third owner of the A's. He's given the fans ample reason to hate him with how he's not invested in a quality product and ordered the expulsion of lots of talent. But that doesn't mean he, or any owner, should be playing Major League Baseball in the Coliseum.

 

[Terry Yake]

manfred and selig should be flattened by a bus

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

GKY Rob!

- A’s fans

Btw, was it the ‘gubberment’ that pulled out of the negation talks last week to announce a land purchase in Vegas, or was that the organization??

Stupid f***ing lying pieces of shit.

 

[MMC]

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Rosenthal: Rob Manfred's support of A's owner is another inelegant chapter in his reign

The A's move to Vegas might simply be a means to an end. But Rob Manfred's refusal to challenge it reflects poorly on the sport.

theathletic.com

“For all Manfred’s talk about how the A’s attendance has “never been outstanding,” the decline of the franchise became something of a self-fulfilling prophecy, thanks to its decrepit ballpark and frequent roster churn. From 1988 to ‘93, a period in which the A’s appeared in three World Series and an ALCS, their average attendance was 2.5 million, higher than the Giants’. From 2001 to ‘05, just after the Giants opened their spectacular facility on the other side of the bay, the team made four postseason appearances and averaged 2.2 million.”

 

[MMC]

 

[BlueSeal]

Manfred has made it clear he wants nothing to do with Oakland. He’s been outright disrespectful to the city and fans through this entire process. I really doubt any provisions will be included if (or when) the move happens.

The organization has been trying to get a new stadium for 30 years and numerous owners have thrown out all the stops with ideas, plans and such that would be beneficial to the city just for the city government to stop it because they are broke and have no idea how to make money, invest and improve the city outside selling portions of it to groups like Kaiser.

De La Fuente was the lone councilman who got it and made things work in the Fruitvale district while the others are too concerned with the hills and have no desire to even look at the flatlands let alone help them. The others either are in it for themselves and their self-interests and/or have no connections or ideas how it all works.

The current mayor, who is absolutely a beginning swimmer stuck at the deepest end of the pool, is getting heat but those of us actually from there know the mayor has NO power in Oakland, the City Manager runs it.

The city has wanted to sell the Coliseum property to Kaiser. Don’t be surprised if they do. It’s the only way the city knows how to do business, by selling what they got.

A’s past ownership, including Wolff, have brought plans for a stadium that includes retail and money-making opportunities that have worked elsewhere. The new owner has seen the writing on the wall and past history along with MLB. You can’t blame them for jack.

 

[John Price]

MLB corrects edited footage of A's HR that omitted anti-ownership signs

An MLB video highlight of Oakland Athletics rookie Ryan Noda's home run Friday caused controversy for omitting fan signs that included anti-ownership sentiments.MLB's highlights of the two-run homer against the Cincinnati Reds zoomed in as the ball approached the bleachers to crop out the signs...

www.thescore.com

 

[Terry Yake]

lol how f***ing pathetic on MLB's part

 

[KevFu]

Rosenthal: Rob Manfred's support of A's owner is another inelegant chapter in his reign

The A's move to Vegas might simply be a means to an end. But Rob Manfred's refusal to challenge it reflects poorly on the sport.

theathletic.com

“For all Manfred’s talk about how the A’s attendance has “never been outstanding,” the decline of the franchise became something of a self-fulfilling prophecy, thanks to its decrepit ballpark and frequent roster churn. From 1988 to ‘93, a period in which the A’s appeared in three World Series and an ALCS, their average attendance was 2.5 million, higher than the Giants’. From 2001 to ‘05, just after the Giants opened their spectacular facility on the other side of the bay, the team made four postseason appearances and averaged 2.2 million.”

Attendance is great and all, but having a lot of people in one place is only helpful to a franchise if those people are providing revenue to the team.

The "Cookie Cutter" model of stadiums was based on "get people in and out fast." They designed a curve section of stadium with entrance, bathrooms, generic concessions by Aramark offering dogs, burgers, popcorn, cotton candy, beer and soda. Then they repeated that section to cover 270 to 360 degrees of the stadium. Only thing different was the section number on the wall.


The Camden Yards-led BALLPARK revolution was the opposite: A communal experience where every part of the park was unique and walking around was encouraged... and there were more points of sale. While Cookie-Cutters are "if you're hungry, get a hot dog," BALLPARKS are "WHAT would you like to eat?" Ballparks are designed for fans to SPEND MONEY IN. And Cookie-Cutters are designed to get 50,000 people into and out of a game quickly.

The LAST cookie-cutter stadiums to be replaced had a period where they got upgrades and were modernized, bringing the Ballpark aspect as best they could in a facility not designed for that. Like in St. Louis, where they added brewhouses and Big Mac Land, and gardens and stuff.

Oakland didn't do even THAT.


It 100% is not the Oakland fans fault the A's are leaving. It's 100% Lack of a New Oakland Stadium. The city of Oakland picked the Raiders; got used for hundreds of millions of dollars by the Raiders; and had no money left to take care of the A's.

 

[KevFu]

The organization has been trying to get a new stadium for 30 years and numerous owners have thrown out all the stops with ideas, plans and such that would be beneficial to the city just for the city government to stop it because they are broke and have no idea how to make money, invest and improve the city outside selling portions of it to groups like Kaiser.

De La Fuente was the lone councilman who got it and made things work in the Fruitvale district while the others are too concerned with the hills and have no desire to even look at the flatlands let alone help them. The others either are in it for themselves and their self-interests and/or have no connections or ideas how it all works.

The current mayor, who is absolutely a beginning swimmer stuck at the deepest end of the pool, is getting heat but those of us actually from there know the mayor has NO power in Oakland, the City Manager runs it.

The city has wanted to sell the Coliseum property to Kaiser. Don’t be surprised if they do. It’s the only way the city knows how to do business, by selling what they got.

A’s past ownership, including Wolff, have brought plans for a stadium that includes retail and money-making opportunities that have worked elsewhere. The new owner has seen the writing on the wall and past history along with MLB. You can’t blame them for jack.

I don't really know the political side of Oakland's efforts. But it seems to me that they royally screwed up when the Raiders came back.

I don't understand how they agreed to spend the amount of money they spent on Mount Davis when Cleveland just built a baseball stadium for less than half of that money; and Carolina just built a football stadium for less than half of that money.

I know Fisher sucks, but HAAS said if the Raiders come back to the Coliseum and the A's don't get a new stadium, they A's would have to leave within four years.

People are completely losing sight of exactly HOW LONG IT'S BEEN.

There's been LOTS of references to Moneyball since the Vegas news. The owner said they'd have to leave in 4 years if they didn't get a new stadium... Jason Giambi was a sophomore in college.

Giambi is in his NINTH season of RETIREMENT now, aged 51 years old. Hell, Brad Pitt's entire career has taken place since the owner made that comment. He said it before Thelma & Louise hit theaters.

If Oakland HAD built a baseball stadium AND a football stadium at the Coliseum site back when they owner said they'd have to move... THOSE stadiums would be coming up on 30 years old now.

Haas has been dead for 27 years. It's a miracle the A's hadn't already moved.