Tag: John Fisher

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: A look at the NFL Playoffs; Salt Lake City offering A’s permanent home if Fisher can’t afford Vegas construction share

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Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (left) and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid seen here before their game back Sun Sep 19, 2024 face each Sun Jan 28, 2024 for the AFC Championship at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie we open with the NFL and we’ll start with the AFC Championship The Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Baltimore Ravens. Two of the top quarterbacks in the NFL are going at it with Pat Mahomes for the Chiefs and LaMar Jackson for the Ravens.

#2 The Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers match up for the NFC Championship. The Lions Jerod Goff the former Cal Bear and Novato resident has led the Lions to this long awaited moment after many years of losing the Lions have been the surprise of the NFC to get here. The 49ers who have a Pro Bowl team and who are the favorites to win it with Brock Purdy under center.

#3 During Wednesday’s Las Vegas A’s Coming out party at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Casino grand ballroom. The Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Mary Beth Sewald opened with welcoming the A’s to Las Vegas only to a murmuring from the crowd present. There were many business leaders, business people and some local baseball fans who paid $100 a ticket and up to hear what Sewald and A’s owner John Fisher had to say. It would seem they didn’t come away impressed.

#4 The City of Salt Lake City is offering up their hospitality for the A’s to not only play all of their remaining home games until the Las Vegas ballpark is built but in the event that Fisher cannot pay his share of the construction costs in Las Vegas he could move the team to Salt Lake City and the City will work on paying for the entire ballpark with City tax dollars.

#5 We’ve ask a number of staff reporters if Fisher can’t get enough money for the ballpark construct will he have no other choice but to come back to Oakland and work something out with City Hall and he does own half of the Oakland Coliseum property?

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

Oakland A’s Relocaton podcast with Daniel Dullum: Fisher says he’ll explore ballpark funding with the Las Vegas Community

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John Fisher owner of the Oakland A’s meets with the Las Vegas Community and later the news media at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas at Las Vegas A’s Coming Out Party (photo from the Nevada Independent)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast:

#1 Oakland A’s owner John Fisher said after Wednesday night’s Coming out party at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas that he’s working with Bally’s and GOPI on the renderings for the Tropicana ballpark instead of just releasing the renderings for the ballpark but also for the planned resort and wants both projects on the renderings

#2 Fisher said it’s going to take time to get the drawings up and measuring the ballpark on nine acres plus how and where the resorts will be designed.

#3 As far as financing for the ballpark the stadium costs will run $1.5 billion and Fisher said he would seek funding from his family and the Las Vegas business community. What makes Fisher think he could go to each Casino owner and business owner in Vegas and put enough money to help pay off the construction cost. He’s basically looking for investors and minority owners.

#4 Fisher was also asked at the Wednesday function where they’ll play for after the 2024 season. Fisher did visit Sutter Health Park in Sacramento and Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City last week saying, “We haven’t made a choice but hope to do soon.”

#5 Fisher did say that Summerlin is a terrific asset and a great place and it’s the Oakland A’s triple A affiliate home of the Aviators. No one from the players association has not said anything yet about it’s members playing in a minor league park but it’s been said the players are not in favor of playing in a minor league park.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s relocaton podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s owner John Fisher, spoke at Las Vegas event- -It is like the Groundhog Day movie; Fisher open to selling shares of team

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Mary Beth Sewald president/CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce (left) and Oakland A’s owner John Fisher (right) sit down to discuss the A’s move to Las Vegas and all the ballpark intangibles at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Wed Jan 24, 2024 (photo by Nevada Independent)

A’s owner, John Fisher, spoke at the Las Vegas event– It is like the Groundhog Day movie

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The first public comments by A’s owner, John Fisher, were made on Wednesday in Las Vegas. He said he would like local Las Vegas investors to help him pay for the $1.5 billion A’s stadium at the Tropicana hotel-casino location on the Strip. Fisher spoke for about 20 minutes at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce event. He wants to find local capital for the stadium in Las Vegas as a way of engaging his new city.

He said about the Las Vegas park renderings: “We’ll release our renderings when you know when it’s the right time to do so,” Fisher said.

Speaking about the funding: “That will be funded mostly with equity from my family,” Fisher said. “We would like to consider raising capital, especially from local investors. That creates a connection to the community, and we’ve seen that with many other teams become a successful thing.”

Meanwhile, back in Planet Oakland, Mayor Shen Thao’s office told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “When the Athletics leave the Bay Area ahead of the team’s planned Las Vegas relocation, they won’t be missed.” The mayor’s office also responded to whether they have discussed extending the team’s Oakland Coliseum lease past its expiration date at the end of the 2024 season.

Leigh Hanson, Mayor Thao’s chief of staff, said no and then ripped into the club. According to the Review-Journal, Mr. Hanson added; “To date, they have not contacted or requested an extension to their lease from the Mayor, Alameda County, the joint powers agency that oversees the Coliseum, and perhaps most notably from the fans.”

The situation in Oakland is not a pretty one when businesses close because of a spike in crime as they continue to make news nationwide, not how they wanted. As a matter of fact, the A’s story is not as crucial for the city of Oakland as the current situation, where some Council Members are now asking the Mayor to declare a State of Emergency.

When a profitable In ‘n Out Burger restaurant announces they are leaving Oakland because of too much crime in their parking lot, the Mayor has a bigger problem than the baseball team.

From Amaury’s desk: This whole story is extremely close to the script of the 1993 Hollywood film: “Groundhog Day” where a cynical television weatherman relives the said day repeatedly. Actor Bill Murray’s predicament drives him to distraction until he sees a way of turning the situation to his advantage. Las Vegas has become Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

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

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Fisher may not have the money for stadium; Sources say he’s been talking to other casino owners to chip in for the $1.1 billion cost

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Does Oakland A’s owner John Fisher have the $1.1 billion to pay for Vegas/Tropicana ballpark in Las Vegas? (photo by Athletics Nation)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Maybe it’s a good thing that Oakland A’s owner John Fisher doesn’t have to pay a relocation fee because he’s having a hard enough time trying to find $1.1 billion to pay for his share of the building construction for the Tropicana ballpark. So far word is he has not plopped down the $1.1 billion and that he just very well may not have the money.

#2 There was talk that he was going to ask Goldman Sachs for the loan to cover the cost of paying for the construction share but after learning what the interest rates for the loan that bit of news got really quite.

#3 The A’s and the Tropicana were supposed to present the renderings for the new ballpark but that was called off earlier in December after two Nevada Deputies were killed and a renderings announcement would be rescheduled. Then it was expected maybe mid December but here we are in the first week of January and the only thing we’ve heard is the renderings are supposed to take place next week.

#4 Sources say that the A’s and the Tropicana have been showing renderings to other Casino owners and from those sources no casino operator has been willing to put in his share towards the stadium financing. If this is the case Fisher clearly doesn’t have the money and is going with hat in hand up and down the strip.

#5 Schools over Stadiums who might be the last hope to stop public financing for a new ballpark on the strip has come out with their campaign push on their X page stating reasons why funding the Tropicana ballpark with public money over education is a bad idea. Schools over Stadiums is looking for voter support in the event they can get an initiative on the ballot that would stop public funding of an A’s Las Vegas Park. Whatever the outcome for Schools over Stadiums the fight is on.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Work of Art

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Photo of art gallery containing Donald Fisher and Doris Fisher’s art collection who are the parents of Oakland A’s owner John Fisher (photo from Artsy)

A’s Work of Art

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Las Vegas most famous museums are The Mob Museum, The Neon Museum, the Atomic Museum, and the Discovery Children’s Museum. Now, the Oakland Athletics, planning to be the Las Vegas A’s in 2028, have a museum in mind for their new 30,000-seat stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.

According to the Las Vegas Business Journal, Athletics owner John Fisher plans to display a selection from his family’s acclaimed collection at the A’s stadium on the strip. For months, multiple sources familiar with Fisher’s design plan have included talks about developing an art program in Las Vegas.

The museum will display the art at the team’s new home at the Tropicana Hotel-Casino site. The A’s owner plans to exhibit these pieces of art in the team’s new house at the Tropicana Hotel-Casino site.

The Doris and Donald Fisher Collection, parents of John Fisher, is among the world’s most significant collections of contemporary art. This is according to SFMOMA website. The founders of the Gap apparel company began buying art pieces in 1969 in San Francisco after they opened their first big store.

Later, it was located in Burlingame, 20 miles south of San Francisco. Allan Schwartzman, a veteran Manhattan curator, told the New York Times the Fishers Collection is one of the great collections assembled in our time.

This A’s Art has nothing to do with Art Howe who managed the Oakland A’s from 1996 to 2002.

Amuary Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Athletics Settle Coliseum Payment, Paving the Way for Vegas Move

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View of the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Complex which half the property is owned by John Fisher and the Oakland A’s and the other 50% is owned by Alameda County (KGO ABC 7/ Sky7 file photo)

By Mauricio Segura

In a dramatic turn of events of the continuing soap opera that has become Oakland Athletics baseball, the team has confirmed their commitment to pay the remaining $45 million owed to Alameda County for their 50% stake in the Coliseum site.

The decision comes after a recent notice from the county, demanding payment by May 14, 2024, triggered by the MLB owners’ unanimous vote on November 16, 2023, approving the A’s relocation to Las Vegas.

The A’s, represented by Coliseum Way Partners LLC, acknowledged the accelerated timeline, with chief legal officer D’Lonra C. Ellis stating in a letter to Nate Miley, president of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, that they would adhere to the terms of the 2019 purchase agreement.

The initial deal, valued at $85 million, allowed for payments in installments until 2026. However, a clause was activated, requiring the A’s to settle the remaining balance within 180 days of announcing their departure from Oakland.

This resolution brings a temporary conclusion to a messy saga surrounding the prominent Bay Area property. The other half of the 155-acre Coliseum site is owned by the City of Oakland, currently engaged in negotiations with the African American Sports and Entertainment Group for a proposed $115 million sale. The group aims to transform the area into a bustling commercial hub with live sports, hotels, and nightlife, though early hurdles have been encountered.

The A’s, secretive about their plans for the Coliseum property, acquired their stake in 2019, initially positioning it as a backup option for a new stadium. However, the narrative quickly shifted, with the team deeming the Coliseum unsuitable for Major League Baseball shortly after the purchase.

As the A’s prepare for their move to Las Vegas in 2028, questions linger about their temporary home for the seasons between 2025 and 2027. Various options, including playing in Reno, extending the Coliseum lease, using the A’s Triple-A home in Las Vegas, or sharing Oracle Park with the San Francisco Giants, have been discussed. Notably, MLB owners unanimously approved the relocation without the A’s disclosing their interim plans.

Intriguingly, the A’s owner, John Fisher, recently made a substantial stock sale, raising $32 million, which aligns with the timing of the Coliseum payment. Speculation suggests this may be a strategic move to demonstrate good faith and potentially secure a lease extension, allowing the city to redevelop the Coliseum without Fisher’s direct involvement. This theory gains traction as tensions between the A’s, Oakland, and MLB remain palpable, and Fisher seeks to secure RSN payments ranging from $180-210 million.

While the Coliseum property dispute is settling, broader uncertainties persist, including ongoing litigation challenging the property sale and the unresolved matter of the A’s interim playing location. As the baseball landscape undergoes significant changes, the A’s journey from the Coliseum to Las Vegas is marked by financial intricacies, legal battles, and a strategic dance with the future of the franchise.

Mauricio Segura has been a Bay Area sportswriter & photographer for the past 20 years, covering baseball, soccer, football, and basketball. He’s contributed articles for Area Chica Magazine, The Baseball Analyst Quarterly, and various newspapers. He currently publishes an online sports and entertainment website called Golden Bay Times and is the graphics and art Director for the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame.

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: 49ers and Thunder get Public money to facilitate stadiums; Can Schools over Stadiums beat those odds in Vegas?

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Jed York Chief Executive of the San Francisco 49ers and the 49ers will get a tax cut worth $180 million from Santa Clara County. The tax cut will run for 30 years. Another example of public money supporting professional sports stadiums (photo by Sports Illustrated)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, this week the San Francisco 49ers got a tax cut worth $180 million in a ruling from a Santa Clara County Judge. The 49ers have over 30 years remaining on their lease at Levis Stadium. The ruling by Superior Court Judge Helen Williams reject a lawsuit brought on by Santa Clara Assessor Lawrence Stone. The lawsuit challenged the taxable value of Levi Stadium that was set by an appeals board back in 2019.

#2 Like what Schools over Stadiums are saying about the public money that is going to fund the Tropicana ballpark in Las Vegas to the tune of $380 million. Santa Clara Unified School District will be hit with a $2.4 million in revenue because of the 49ers tax relief. Santa Clara will lose out on $32 million and this will be over the life of the Levi 30 year lease. The city of Santa Clara takes a $24 million loss in tax revenue during the 30 year lease. So Schools and education again gets pushed to the bottom of the list.

#3 Oklahoma City voter approved public funding for the Oklahoma City Thunder for a new $900 million downtown arena. The approval keeps the Thunder in Oklahoma City through 2050. 71% of all precincts reported that the funding has been approved. There will be a one cent sales tax for the next additional years. The tax won’t start until 2028. Universities in the state of Oklahoma were against the use of public money to fund the arena with some Oklahoma professors all with PhD’s who were against the public funding, but could not beat back the public support for the new downtown arena.

#4 Daniel taking a look at some these passages for public monies for the 49ers and the Thunder it would look like it will be an uphill battle for the Schools over Stadiums to beat back public funding from the state of Nevada if they could get the signatures to get it on the ballot it’s getting the voters to vote down the public money for the Tropicana ballpark. Not that easy.

#5 The A’s so far have not come up with rendering, they still have to get approval from the FAA to build at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana because of the lights of the ballpark could interfere with landing and take offs as home plate fronts the airport strip, also A’s owner John Fisher needs to come up with his share of the $1.1 billion for the construction of the Tropicana, Fisher owes $48 million for the Oakland Coliseum property for his half that comes due to Alameda County in Jun 2024.

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

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: $48 million due on Coliseum digs won’t stop A’s from moving to Vegas

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Oakland A’s owner John Fisher seen here addressing the news media on Thu Nov 16, 2023 at the MLB Owners vote in Arlington TX. Fisher will have to come up with $48 million payment for his half of owning the Oakland Coliseum Complex property in May 2024. (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, Alameda County who owns the other half of the Oakland Coliseum property are prepared to ask for part of the $85 million that is owed by Oakland A’s owner John Fisher who owns the other half. A contractual agreement saying if they A’s announce that they would leave Oakland which was last April. Within those 180 days after that announcement the $48 million of their half would come due. Alameda County Councilperson Donna Ziegler will make that call in May 2024 as Council vice president David Haubert said the clock started ticking on Nov 16th the day the MLB owners voted to move the A’s from Oakland.

#2 The ask by Alameda County won’t stop Fisher from moving to Las Vegas but it will free up the county from Fisher owning the other half so they could develop at the valuable property.

#3 At the time of he purchase of half the Coliseum A’s president David Kavel sent a letter the Alameda County Council in 2019 stating that they wanted to purchase half the property at the Coliseum in the event the deal at Howard Terminal failed but instead the team vied to relocate. The A’s have not said what they will do with the property now that they are leaving Oakland, but Alameda County will most likely will ask for the $45 million in May.

#4 It’s also been speculated that Fisher will hold onto his half of the Coliseum until the new Tropicana ballpark in Las Vegas is in fact under construction and shovels are indeed in the ground. Also does Fisher have an extra $45 million that will be due in May 2024?

#5 In early September the African American Sports and Entertainment Group asked the Oakland A’s if they could buy their half of the Coliseum the A’s declined. In hindsight Haubert said there should have been clear conditions in the contract saying to the A’s “you either stay in Oakland, at Howard Terminal or the Coliseum, or else the deal’s off.”

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Michael Duca: Blue Jays and Dodgers at top of Ohtani sweepstakes; A’s owe $48 million for Oakland Coliseum real estate; plus more news

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The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after connecting for a two run home run against the New York Yankees at the Big A in Anaheim on Mon Jul 17, 2023 (AP News photo file)

On Headline Sports with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael, the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes continue to with the latest sources saying that the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers are top contenders for the two way player. Can you see either of these two teams in bidding war for Ohtani?

#2 Michael, some critics can’t see the San Francisco Giants signing Ohtani because of the above teams are pretty much at the top of the list for Ohtani. Where do you the Giants chances in signing Ohtani?

#3 Michael, it was reported in a the next day or two Alameda County Councilperson Donna Ziegler per vice president David Haubert of the five person Alameda County board will be reaching out to Oakland A’s owner John Fisher that he owes the county $45 million part of his $85 million purchase of the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum site. The deadline was for 2026 but a stipulation was made if the A’s made an announcement that they’re leaving Oakland the payment would be due 180 days after the team made that announcement which was made on April 19th. The A’s could say they did not make any announcement of leaving Oakland. How do you see this being worked out?

#4 Michael, longtime Boston Red Sox play by play announcer Joe Castiglione was voted into the Major League Baseball Ford C Frick wing of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Castiglione has called Sox games for the last 41 years beat out three Bay Area broadcasters San Francisco Giants TV announcers Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow and Oakland A’s radio play by play announcer Ken Korach.

#5 Michael, Giants manger Bob Melvin said that he’s happy that coach Alyssa Nakken will remain on the coaching staff in San Franicsco. Melvin said that her becoming the first woman in MLB history to coach first base was “really cool she broke ground like that.” You’ve had several conversations with Alyssa tell us your thoughts of her breaking ground and returning to coaching with Melvin at the helm.

Michael Duca is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Will A’s dump Tropicana for a third ballpark site?; Will Fisher have financing troubles for stadium?

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The Foutainbleau location insiders say the A’s would consider the 27 acre site over the current ballpark site at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. The site is close to Circus Circus and Stratosphere on the Las Vegas strip (photo by the Las Vegas Review Journal)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast:

#1 Daniel a lot of discussion this past week since the owner approved the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas where will A’s owner John Fisher get funding for the stadium his share is $1.1 billion. He’s checking out possibilities for a loan from Goldman Sachs and his family as the State of Nevada has approved $380 million in public money for they’re share of the Tropicana ballpark.

#2 If Fisher can’t get the funding outright it more than likely will kill the deal. Bally’s could kick in but at $ 1.5 billion that’s a tall ask and will they end up being the ones being on the hook. Major League Baseball owners could shore up but still that’s a pretty steep bail out for Fisher.

#3 Schools over Stadiums is viewed as a long shot to get some 102,000 signatures on a petition that would put a referendum on the Nov 2024 ballot that would stop the $380 million public funding of the A’s Tropicana ballpark.

#4 The A’s are possibly looking into a third location near the Fountainbleau on the North East end of the strip, it would be near the Stratosphere, and Circus Circus. This third location is 27 acres as opposed to the nine acres the A’s are working with now. With the bigger site will the cost to John Fisher run more than the $1.1 billion he’s looking at with the nine acre Tropicana?

#5 Schools over Stadiums are planning to redo the petition at the advice of the judge who turned the petition language down in the last hearing on Mon Nov 6th. Once they get their consultation done with their legal staff Schools over Stadium will present the petition language to an Nevada appeals court and move forward with getting the 102,000 signatures split up amongst four Nevada districts.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com