Tag: John Fisher

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Manfred is certain Vegas deal for A’s is a sure thing

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Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred addresses the news media at spring training Tampa Bay Fl Thu Feb 15, 2024 at the Grapefruit League (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Major League Commissioner Rob Manfred said that if there was any doubt about the Oakland A’s going to Las Vegas Manfred wanted to assure everybody that the move is “solid” in spite of A’s owner John Fisher who has not come up with his share of the construction costs for his share of the Las Vegas ballpark.

#2 Manfred also wants the A’s to decide where there going to play in the interim for 2025-27. Manfred would like the A’s to decide to play in one location and not move say from Portland to Salt Lake City or even Oracle Park in San Francisco for example.

#3 As you may recall A’s president David Kaval said talks with the Oakland Coliseum will continue as it was reported their first meeting two weeks ago went well. Manfred who doesn’t have the best relationship with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao might have to come back and have talks with Thao and work out something to get the A’s some place to play for the next three seasons after 2024.

#4 The Las Vegas stadium idea has run into it’s share of problems, there are no renderings, there is no funding plan from Fisher, Schools over Stadiums is appealing language for their petition drive in the Nevada Court of Appeals once up and running they need over 100,000 signatures to place an initiative on the November ballot to block the A’s public funding for the ballpark and the Nevada State Education Association has filed a $380 million lawsuit against the State of Nevada to block public funding of the park.

#5 After Fisher got a luke warm reception when he was introduced to a paid crowd in Las Vegas sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said that the A’s would be better off in Oakland with a waterfront ballpark. Manfred said Las Vegas is solid and that Goodman was the first person to talk Manfred about getting a baseball team in Vegas.

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

Fans Fest Oakland 68’s and Last Dive Bar at Jack London Square podcast with Stephen Ruderman

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Crowds turned out and filled almost every corner of the Fans Fest hosted by the Last Dive Bar and the Oakland 68’s at Jack London Square in downtown Oakland in support of finding a way to keep the Oakland A’s in Oakland (#AsFanByDesign photo)

Fans Fest Oakland 68’s and Last Dive Bar at Jack London Square podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Because of the lack of renderings and a financial plan from John Fisher and the A’s there has been doubt if the Las Vegas ballpark project could get off the ground or how long it would be delayed?

#2 MLB Players Union Chief Tony Clark said this week he’s concerned about the players future and where they’ll play beyond 2024 if the A’s do not decide on a interim location soon.

#3 A’s team president David Kaval said the A’s have three options for an interim location Sacramento, Salt Lake City, or Oakland. They should decide soon do you see the A’s walking away from the $70 million annual TV money and choosing to play in a minor league park?

#4 How realistic do you see it that Fisher whose looking for minority owners to help pay for the Vegas construction to happen? If nothing is decided by the middle of the year the costs of building the park and schedule to have it ready could be pushed back to 2029?

#5 Fisher may not have the money to go on with the Vegas project. What are the chances do you see him possibly going back to the City of Oakland and negotiating with Oakland Mayor Thao?

Stephen Ruderman is a MLB beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Co-owner Billy Beane encouraging Fisher to continue talks with Coliseum Joint Authority for lease extension; plus more A’s news

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Oakland A’s senior advisor to the managing partner Billy Beane (left) and A’s general manager David Forst (right) are seen here standing in the A’s dugout on Aug 28, 2020 at the Oakland Coliseum. Beane has recently advised according to reports owner John Fisher that the Oakland Coliseum would be the best place for the A’s interim years 2025-27 before moving to Las Vegas (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Oakland A’s minority owner Billy Beane reportedly from Front Office Sports is encouraging owner John Fisher to continue talks with the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority for a lease extension. Beane is also a senior advisor to Fisher.

#2 There had been talks that the A’s had the home of the Sacramento Rivercats and the San Francisco Giants minor league triple A team’s ballpark Sutter Health in West Sacramento that would house the A’s home games but some sources within the A’s organization said they didn’t know where those rumors came from and that Sacramento was not named by the A’s as the first choice for an interim site after the 2024 season.

#3 The Las Vegas Review Journal reported also that the A’s are trying to stay at the Oakland Coliseum as an interim site. A’s president David Kaval said this week that the A’s have narrowed their choices to three sites Sacramento, Salt Lake City and Oakland. Kaval is at the A’s spring training site in Mesa AZ. Talk has it that Oakland is the most logical choice because of the TV money they would get from NBC Sports California at some $70 million a year something they would not get in Salt Lake City or Sacramento.

#4 Kaval said that there is already a broadcast distribution now with the Sacramento Kings, San Jose Sharks, and A’s with NBC Sports California and that make Sacramento in the running. Still the players union would still have to sign off on playing in a minor league facility and three years at a minor league park might be an issue with the union.

#5 Kaval said he wants to be thoughtful and work with the league and that talks last Thursday went well and he had a positive feel. Kaval said the A’s are keeping their options open until they identify where they’ll play in the interim. It’s the hope of most fans and employees of the A’s that they would choose the Oakland Coliseum in the interim before moving to Las Vegas.

Jerry Feitelberg does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Commissioner Manfred says Bay Area needs only one team; How much influence do the Giants play in keeping an Oakland team out?

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Does San Francisco Giants and team CEO Larry Baer play a influential role in encouraging MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to make sure Oakland never gets an expansion team so the Giants will have the East Bay as their territory as well? (AP News file photo)

On Oakland A’s relocation podcast:

#1 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s Chief of Staff Leigh Hanson said on Friday after meeting with Oakland A’s team president David Kaval that in order for the A’s to get a three year lease at the Coliseum MLB has to agree that Oakland will get an expansion team. That decision rests with baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

#2 Manfred said of any expansion team or any idea of another MLB team coming to Oakland “First of all we do have a major league team in the Bay Area.” Manfred was referring to the San Francisco Giants it’s been everyone’s understanding that Giants team CEO Larry Baer and the Giants who voted to have the A’s moved out of Oakland to Las Vegas during the owners vote on Dec 16th that the Giants would like to have the Bay Area including the East Bay as Giants territory and their market. Do they want the Commissioner not to allow any team to expand or move to Oakland and Oakland would become Giants territory.

#3 After the A’s announced and got confirmation from the Nevada State Legislature to the tune of $380 million for the Tropicana ballpark the A’s and MLB were confident that this was going to be smooth transition but the offering was rushed they left out where John Fisher A’s owner was going to get his share of the $1.5 billion for the construction costs and also where the A’s were going to play between 2025-27. Now Manfred is under pressure to find a place for the A’s to play for those remaining three years and Fisher doesn’t want to walk away from $70 million in TV money for those three years.

#4 Who will blink first. The City of Oakland and the Coliseum Joint Authority will lease out the Coliseum to the A’s only if Oakland is guaranteed an expansion team this boxes in Manfred who wants to get out of Oakland all together and is being counted on by the Giants to make sure that happens. The A’s must have a place to play decided by July. The Players Association will not sign off on playing in a minor league park and the Coliseum is the only practical viable place to go.

#5 Sharing a ballpark with another MLB team won’t especially if the A’s leave the Bay Area to play their home games and they lose the $70 million TV money.

Jerry Fetielberg is an Oakland A’s beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast Augie Mesenburg: Sacramento is A’s first choice for 2025 season; City of Oakland wants guarantee of expansion team

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Oakland A’s team president David Kaval has met with the Oakland Coliseum Joint Powers regarding a lease extension beyond 2024. The A’s could play the remaining three years at the Coliseum 2025-27 before the Tropicana ballpark is ready in Las Vegas (photo by ABC Sky7 still photo)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Augie:

#1 The Oakland A’s brass met with the Oakland Coliseum Joynt Powers. Seeing that players’ union most likely will not sign off to play in a minor league ballpark and most importantly the A’s don’t want to miss out on that $67 million annual television money from NBC Bay Area Sports California contract.

#2 There has been no disclosure to how much a year and how long the A’s will be staying at the Coliseum as the new park in Las Vegas is supposed to be ready by 2028. It’s sounding like it might be the three years 2025-27 to finish up in Oakland similar to what the Raiders did before they left Oakland for Las Vegas.

#3 Some are asking could this lead to something being worked out with the Mayor of Oakland and the City of Oakland for a chance that the A’s brass could re-visit Howard Terminal again? It doesn’t seem likely on the surface but there are two law suits coming from Strong Public Schools and Schools over Stadiums that will challenge the Nevada public funding of the Tropicana ballpark and the A’s might be looking at a back up plan.

#4 Augie, the A’s try hard as they may have not nailed down a location to play their games after 2024. A’s owner John Fisher and team president David Kaval have looked at numerous sites Las Vegas Ballpark (home of the A’s minor league triple A team), Sutter Health Park (home of the Sacramento Rivercats), Salt Lake City (home of the minor league Bees), and Oracle Park in San Francisco. All of the parks didn’t work out either it was a minor league park or at Oracle Park they would have to share it with the Giants and the Giants were concerned about the turf being torn up. The latest from Thursday’s news is Sacramento’s Sutter Health Ballpark is a front runner for the A’s in 2025.

#5 This might be more than just a kick the tires meeting to see if it’s worth to come back to the Coliseum after 2024 the A’s who were rumored at one point considering just shutting down operations between 2025-28 have not much choice and no where to go but the Coliseum until the new park in Vegas is ready that is if the Vegas ballpark can withstand the lawsuits by Schools over Stadiums and Strong Public Schools in Las Vegas.

Augie Mesenburg filled in for Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts heard Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com. Augie is also a reporter for KHAI FM 104.5 and AM 950 Honolulu.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: MLB and A’s are not talking about what’s beyond 2024

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According to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao the door is still open to negotiate a deal at Howard Terminal at the Port of Oakland. Oakland A’s owner John Fisher in the event the Las Vegas deal falls through is welcomed to call Thao. (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, how impossible is the idea for the Oakland A’s to go and disband for three years and MLB to carry with just 29 MLB teams from 2025-27?

#2 The idea that the A’s could shut it down for three years is it a clear indication that either financially John Fisher doesn’t have his share of the stadium costs or he’s trying to scrape enough together between 2025-27 in order to pay for his share saving money by shutting down operations.

#3 If it all falls apart in Las Vegas there is really no where else for the A’s to go. Commissioner Rob Manfred said the A’s will play out west and did really know where himself. The players association will not play in a minor league park hence Salt Lake City, Portland, Sacramento or Summerlin.

#4 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said recently that her door is open and if Fisher wants to talk about working a deal out at Howard Terminal if Las Vegas falls apart. Her offer out numbers the State of Nevada number $428 million to $380 million.

#5 The A’s pre season starts Sat Feb 24th in Mesa Arizona at Ho Ho Kam Stadium it’ll be the first pre season game this one is against the Colorado Rockies on the same day two Oakland A’s fan clubs the Oakland 68s and the Last Dive Bar will host a Fans Fest at Jack London Square that would raise money to help with legal fees for law suits filed by Schools over Stadiums and Strong Public Schools who are trying to stop the public financing of the Las Vegas ballpark.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 1010 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at www,.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Did Vegas Mayor have some weight behind her “A’s belong in Oakland” comment?

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Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman just recently won the hearts and minds of Oakland fans saying “the A’s belong in Oakland” this week in an interview with Front Office Sports (photo by the City of Las Vegas)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Augie:

#1 Augie, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman’s remark’s that the “A’s belong in Oakland” after seeing that the Oakland A’s missed the deadline on presenting renderings and that owner John Fisher is asking the Las Vegas business community to help invest in the team.

#2 Later Goodman partially walked back what she originally said saying that she wanted what was best for Las Vegas, Paradise, and Clark County and that she wanted to welcome the A’s to Las Vegas and that the A’s only belonged in Oakland if they can’t get the financing their looking for.

#3 The interview with Mayor Goodman was conducted with Front Office Sports and it was audio recorded as well. Goodman said that the A’s “need to listen to the people that are up there (in Oakland). It’s there team.”

#4 Fisher has said that he is seeking financial assistance and that had put doubt in Goodman’s mind that Fisher doesn’t have the money. Goodman is not mayor of the A’s future home at the Tropicana location which is located in the Paradise city limits and ran by Clark County. Goodman and her husband former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman have been trying to bring MLB to Vegas for 20 years.

#5 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao upon hearing what Goodman had to say that the A’s are Oakland ‘s team said with excitement in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle’s John Shea, “100%! Keeping the A’s in Oakland is what’s best for everyone including Las Vegas. My door is open to John Fisher and to anyone else that has the means and desire to purchase the A’s and keep them in the town. We have the plan, the sites, and the money. Let’s keep the A’s rooted in Oakland.”

#6 John Fisher is a vilified figure as many fans in Oakland want Fisher to sell the team and find a buyer who will keep the team in Oakland. Fisher repeatedly has said the team is not for sale. Daniel, in the hypothetical circumstance that Fisher can’t pay for the costs of the stadium in Vegas or if the whole Las Vegas ballpark plan fails can you see him going back to Oakland as Mayor Thao who says she has a existing offer on the table.

#7 Augie, a political action committee group Strong Public Schools has filed a lawsuit on Monday which also named the State of Nevada, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and state Treasurer Zach Conine as defendants saying that the state is “financing a world class Stadium for a California billionaire while ignoring Nevada’s second class education system.” The A’s nor anyone from Major League Baseball would not make a comment on the lawsuit that argues the SB1 bill violated the Nevada constitution because it was passed on a majority vote and not a two thirds vote. The A’s nor anyone from Major League Baseball are named as defendants.

#8 Schools over Stadiums according to sources has raised funding for their legal fees to get the proper petition language to put an initiative on the November ballot that would stop the public funding for the A’s ballpark on the Las Vegas strip with legal counseling. Schools over Stadiums can thank Oakland A’s fans namely the Oakland 68s and the Last Dive Bar who helped raise funds to help pay for the legal fees.

Augie Mesenburg filled in for Daniel Dullum who hosts the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Vegas Mayor says A’s belong in Oakland; Schools over Stadiums ready to move language for petition drive to stop A’s ballpark funding

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The Tropicana Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas the future home with the Las Vegas A’s hoping to break ground in April 2025. The issue of private financing has been so off schedule and unorganized that Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has said the “plans don’t make sense” (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, because of all the lawsuits the Oakland A’s might lose the public money because of all the lawsuits and the Schools over Stadiums initiative ballot that stops using public money that could make the public ballot. This money is only earmarked for the Tropicana location and no where else. The A’s might be having problems figuring how to get a ballpark on nine acres at the Trop.

#2 MLB had no comment after Las Vegas Mayor Goodman said that the A’s ought to stay in Oakland.

#3 Mayor Goodman can read between the lines as the reaction at the Chamber of Commerce meeting was cold and talk has been the business community now has it’s doubts about the A’s since owner John Fisher has been going hat in hand looking for financial support.

#4 It’s Super Bowl week Amaury, and you would think the biggest news in Vegas would be about the Big Game but now the Oakland A’s are a headline with the Mayor saying the A’s shouldn’t come to Vegas but stay in Oakland.

#5 Amaury, the Last Dive Bar and Oakland 68s who are strong A’s fan groups are holding a Fan Fest at Jack London Square in downtown Oakland proceeds will help with legal fees toward Schools over Stadiums in Las Vegas to stop the use of public money to finance the ballpark. The first step of success is Schools over Stadium had Oakland A’s fans raise enough money to cover Schools over Stadium’s legal fees to get language to stop the public funding and get a petition drive to get initiative on the ballot for the Nov 2024 election not to mention that Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has been named as a defendant by Schools over Stadiums.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s on the Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Super Bowl LVII/Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: 49ers and Chiefs what are the differences in teams; Will A’s shutdown operations after 2024?

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Artists rendition of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback (13) Pat Mahomes standing in front of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (NFL.com image)

On Headlines Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, looking at the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LVIII what do you consider some of the key differences between the two teams?

#2 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he knew that quarterback Brock Purdy was going to be their quarterback based on what he had seen from former 49ers quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Looks like Shanahan called it.

#3 Charlie, some of the right wing have said that it’s a fix that the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl that the officials missed some calls in order for the Baltimore Ravens to lose to the Chiefs because they wanted a path for Chiefs Travis Kelce and superstar singer Taylor Swift to be the face of the Super Bowl. Some in the right think the Chiefs are also fixed to win the Super Bowl because of the Swiftie tie in. The thinking is the Chiefs winning would help influence President Biden’s re-election campaign with another Swift endorsement. What do you make of the still discussed story?

#4 Turning to Major League Baseball and the Oakland A’s ballpark saga, the latest for the A’s 2025-27 seasons has several candidates now with Salt Lake City supposedly running in the lead, Portland says they are welcoming the A’s and further saying if it doesn’t work out in Vegas the City of Portland will pay for the park, retail, ballpark village housing, ballpark and put it on the Red Tail Golf Course in Beaverton outside of Portland, Sacramento could be a surprise, Oracle Park looks like a long shot too much baseball for the field, Summerlin looks out of the hunt, and the Oakland Coliseum doesn’t look like it has a chance and John Fisher A’s owner owns half of the Oakland Coliseum property.

#5 The last option that has raised eye brows as well as the ire of the Players Union from reliable sources that the A’s would consider shutting down operations and not play for the next three years after the 2024 season is completed. The idea being that Fisher can save, raise funds for his share of the construction costs of building the Vegas Ballpark without having to pay for employees, players and contractors for three lame duck seasons.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s could shutdown operations between 2025-27; Portland will pay for A’s to come if Vegas falls apart

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The Portland Diamond Project is pushing for a new ball park which include retail, housing, offices, and a new ballpark. Portland is willing to pay for the project which would be located at the Red Tail Golf Course on 163 acres in Redmond Oregon if things don’t work out in Las Vegas (renderings Portland Diamond Project)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 The Oakland A’s and John Fisher are considering shutting down their operations between 2025-27 and resuming operations in 2028.

#2 Part of the thinking is that shutting down the operations will save the team money and that they can also pay the $1.5 billion to finance the ballpark in Vegas for their share without having to pay for operations of the team and to the players for three years.

#3 The problem with the A’s shutting down for three years there will be 29 teams playing and the Players Union most likely will not go along with the idea of one less team which would hurt the players who are involved.

#4 The A’s have no plans where to play after the 2024 season, so far they’ve toured Salt Lake City, Summerlin, and Sacramento. they have not decided on a place yet.

#5 They went and paid a visit to Portland this week and the City of Portland wants a MLB team badly. Portland wants to purchase the Red Tail Golf Course and it would include a massive amount of land for retail, housing, a retail village, offices and a ballpark. On 150 acres. The A’s are obligated to Las Vegas but if they simply don’t have the money for their share of the construction costs or don’t want to come out of pocket Portland is willing to foot the entire bill for a MLB team like the A’s.

Join Daniel for the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com