Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Oakland Mayor’s office talks continue on A’s Coliseum extension; A’s officials look forward to more talks on April 2

Oakland A’s team president David Kaval meets with the media before the A’s and Milwaukee Brewers pre season game at Las Vegas Ballpark on Fri Mar 8, 2024 (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s office said that will not discuss anything further regarding talks between the Mayor’s office and the Oakland A’s officials but did say that they will continue talking regarding the lease extension.

#2 The A’s said the talks were positive and an extension is something they will continue to discuss with the City and plan to meet with the City and Coliseum on April 2. The Oakland Soul and Oakland Roots soccer teams will meet with the Coliseum Authority on Friday to discuss playing at the Coliseum in 2025-26.

#2 According to sports commentator Damon Amendolara saying the A’s moving to Vegas doesn’t fix the A’s problem. It only spoils another good market. DA was saying that he was in town last month for the Super Bowl and said that Vegas is a great sports town but in talking with Vegas fans about the A’s they didn’t want this team to come but they wanted an expansion team.

#3 Last week March 8th and 9th VIPs in a roped off area in front of the first base dugout at Las Vegas Ballpark during batting practice before the exhibition game before the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A’s in Las Vegas. Those invited in the roped off area were state and local lawmakers, labor leaders, and anyone responsible for helping make the A’s legislation or otherwise making it possible in getting the public money for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark. Those VIPs were given the opportunity to speak with A’s president David Kaval and team owner John Fisher.

#4 The A’s weekend in Las Vegas gave Fisher the opportunity meet with not only Las Vegas residents and VIPs but also to answer questions from the media which is very rare since Fisher is noted for not giving too many interviews. Fisher was thrilled to be in Vegas the future home of the A’s and wanted to express how pleased he was about the A’s future ballpark for 2028.

#5 Schools over Stadiums is appealing the public funding for the A’s ballpark. They will be in Nevada Appeals Court in April to get approval for the language to go on a petition that will stop the public funding of the A’s Tropicana ballpark. Once they win appeal they will circulate the petition in four Nevada districts and need over 102,000 signatures before June 1st. If that is accomplished they can get the initiative on the Nov 2024 ballot. If the voters vote to stop the public funding for the A’s ballpark in Vegas that should stop the A’s move to Vegas. That unless the A’s can get private money $380 million worth for the missing public funding share.

Join Jerry for the Oakland A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com