Tag: John Fisher

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Mayor Thao has been silent on A’s relocation since July; No mention of A’s in state of city speech on Tuesday

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao speaks at the state of city of Oakland address on Tue Oct 17, 2023. Thao did not address the Oakland A’s relocation at the address and has been pretty much silent on the A’s move to Las Vegas since the MLB All Star break in July (photo from oaklandside.org)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao for the most part has not said a word regarding the A’s move since her journey from last July’s All Star game. Mayor Thao flew to Seattle with an Oakland delegation to present MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred with 30 books showing that the City of Oakland was in the middle of negotiations for the Howard Terminal ballpark when the A’s broke off talks to announce they had a binding deal in Las Vegas.

#2 Manfred did have some stinging comments back in September saying that if Thao was close to a deal why didn’t she throw $100 million on the table. Thao said the deal for Howard Terminal was ten percent of the way there but Manfred said the deal wasn’t even close.

#3 Manfred did have a working relationship with former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf but after Schaaf’s term was up and Thao took over as new mayor A’s owner John Fisher and Manfred said that they couldn’t get anything going with Thao hence turning their attention to Las Vegas.

#4 There are some theories why various teams might vote no to an A’s relocation, the Angels, Dodgers, Padres, and Diamondbacks beam their broadcast signals, stream, and market their brand in Las Vegas that would all go away if the A’s make Vegas their home base, the Mariners could object being the only AL team in the Northwest and that would put them geographically alone with the nearest American League in Anaheim and you guessed it Las Vegas.

#5 Another objection going into the owners vote in November is the A’s would be moving into the smallest TV market and have the smallest capacity of all the ballpark in MLB. The A’s could very well be the number four team behind the Aces, Raiders, Knights, and drop to fifth if an NBA franchise moves into town.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with inside analysis and updates on the A’s relocation and MLB owners relocation vote Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Warrior owner Lacob knows he can’t buy what’s not for sale

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There is zero chance that Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob can buy the Oakland A’s as A’s owner John Fisher is keeping the team and moving them to Las Vegas (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob confirms that he still has a standing offer to buy the Oakland A’s and that he’s very interested in purchasing the team.

#2 When A’s owner John Fisher decided it wasn’t going to work in Oakland anymore he’s headed to Vegas but Lacob said he would interested in buying the team. However Lacob said you have to have someone who wants to sell something to be interested in buying it.

#3 Lacob, did make an attempt to buy the A’s when former A’s owners Steve Schott and Ken Hoffman put the team up for sale only to sell it to Lew Wolf who just so happened to be a sorority brother of former MLB Commissioner Bud Selig at the time.

#4 Lacob’s dream at the time was to build a new park at the current Oakland Coliseum location and build a baseball village around it. Now with Fisher owning half the Coliseum property and moving the team to Vegas it’s looking tougher to save the A’s.

#5 Fisher know he will increase the value of the team by moving it to Las Vegas and having the A’s play at the Tropicana on the strip. The only thing that will stop him now is if the MLB owners vote no. Otherwise any hope to keep the A’s in Oakland looks almost like no chance.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Will MLB owners relocate A’s in mid November relocation vote?

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New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner will be one of the 30 owners to vote on the Oakland A’s relocation in mid November. Sources say Steinbrenner is not too favorable to the A’s leaving a big TV market for the smallest TV market in MLB. Will the other owners feel the same way? (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Thursday MLB owners have decided to vote on the future of the Oakland A’s and their relocation to the Las Vegas Tropicana location. They have decided to hold the vote in mid November.

#2 Daniel, talk about the first step of the process with the MLB owners three man committee Milwaukee Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio, who is chairing the committee, Philadelphia Phillies CEO John Middleton and Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman. They will be reviewing the A’s application and will send it for review to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

#3 After Manfred reviews the application he will send it to an MLB eight man executive council with his recommendation. The eight man council will be reviewing the environmental impact reports, the financial benefits, the TV market, the funding of the park, and weigh the benefits of moving to Las Vegas and moving out of Oakland.

#4 After the eight man council review the application they will then send it to the 30 Major League teams where the owner of each team will vote on the A’s relocation. The A’s need 75% of the vote in order to move the team to Las Vegas.

#5 Taking all things into consideration Daniel with what’s in front of the three steps at MLB to make this happen do you see any outside chance that MLB can get at least eight MLB teams to say no and get on board against the relocation? The minimum that would stop the move of the A’s.

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

Oakland named as one of two expansion sites once A’s leave for Vegas in 2028

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao addresses the media during a Wed Feb 15, 2023 press conference at Oakland City Hall. Mayor Thao has said the City of Oakland would consider extending the A’s lease through the 2027 season if the city would retain the A’s name and the city gets an expansion team. (AP photo file)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–You might recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said that if Oakland A’s are looking for extending they’re lease between 2025-27 before moving to Las Vegas the city of Oakland wants assurance of an MLB expansion team. According to USA Today reports two high officials in MLB said that Oakland and Nashville have been named as the top two cities for expansion.

The A’s ballpark is expected to be completed at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip by 2028. The A’s are committed to play at the Oakland Coliseum through the 2024 season. Then after 2024 where do the A’s play? Several sites have been suggested Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Aviators park, Reno, and San Francisco.

Mayor Thao said as long as Oakland is assured an expansion team when the A’s leave in 2028 the city would grant the A’s an extension to play at the Coliseum for an additional three more years until they pack up and leave for Sin City.

With the two high ranking officials saying Oakland is on the list for expansion Thao will most likely extend the A’s lease through the 2027 season. The officials who were not named said the city of Oakland needs to secure an owner who will build a new ballpark most likely at the Howard Terminal location. Mayor Thao would most likely need to identify an owner who will build the new ballpark and take charge of the expansion team to make it happen.

Thao had said that the city in part of extending the Oakland Coliseum lease for the A’s would retain the Oakland A’s name and brand. A’s owner John Fisher had said that the A’s will not relinquish the name when they move to Vegas and intends to keep the A’s brand.

It was also mentioned in the report that the city and the A’s were close to a deal in before the A’s announced they were leaving for Vegas. Thao had said the city and A’s were ten percent of the way to finalizing a deal but the A’s broke off negotiations and said they had a binding deal with the Rio in Las Vegas. The deal at the Rio was later broke off and now the A’s are trying to build at the Tropicana location which the A’s are waiting for MLB owners approval a vote that is expected to take place in December.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s reporter at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s report: Schools over Stadiums files petition to get initiative on ballot to stop public funding for A’s Vegas ballpark

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Rendering of the Las Vegas Tropicana Hotel and Casino ballpark. If successful the ballpark is expected to be completed by 2028 upon the approval vote of MLB owners in Dec 2023. Schools over Stadiums is attempting to put a measure on the ballot stopping public funding of the Vegas ballpark that vote could take place in Nov 2024. (rendering from the Oakland A’s)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Schools over Stadium a group who is working with the Nevada State Education Association filed a referendum petition to get a measure on the ballot that would prevent public funds to pay for a new A’s ballpark at the Tropicana hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip.

Dawn Etcheverry who is president of the NSEA and Schools over Stadiums and is a music teacher said that the organization is committed to pursue every possible path to stop the use of public funds to subsidize a new ballpark for owner John Fisher and the Oakland A’s.

Etcheverry raised the point that the people of Nevada did not have a say in the process during the Nevada State Legislature special session on public funds use for the ballpark. Etcheverry said that the priorities to use public funding for a stadium over schools and education in the state are misguided and that Nevada is 48th in the state on education should be priority for public funding rather than spending those funds on the Tropicana ballpark.

Etcheverry stated that the funds should go to Nevadans who depend on that money to go to public schools rather than the ballpark. Etcheverry pointed out that the 82nd Legislative session overlooked the overcrowding in classrooms in the state of Nevada, the lack of teachers, and the state has ignored streams of incomes for schools and public education.

If there are enough signatures on the petitions from the four Nevada districts which includes Clark County where the A’s plan to build at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip. The measure will be placed on the ballot and if the voters say no to public spending for the A’s new ballpark the A’s move to Las Vegas could be dead unless Fisher can find $380 million in private money for the Vegas ballpark.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s commentary: What John Fisher Can Learn From San Jose Teams

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Oakland A’s owner John Fisher sitting in the Oakland A’s dugout is the subject of today’s feature Oakland A’s commentary (NBC Bay Area file photo)

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

OAKLAND– With the end of the MLB season coming at the end of the month and the Oakland A’s two losses away from clinching their second consecutive last place finish in the AL West, the cloud looming over the A’s organization is the threat of leaving Oakland California.

The 2023 season was the year of the boycott. The year of “SELL THE TEAM” chants not just filling the Coliseum, but Oracle Park, the All Star Game in Seattle, and even areas outside of baseball, the boycott was the most talked about thing in Major League Baseball.

The change of location stems from no renovation to the current Coliseum or a new ballpark, but after the stubbornness of owner John Fisher, the negotiations of relocation became the norm starting in 2021. After two years of meetings and talks, Las Vegas became the nominee after Nevada approved a potential $380 million funding deal and the club submitting its relocation paperwork in August of 2023. 

At this point in the conversation, if everything is approved, the new stadium would be completed in Vegas for the 2027 season with Oakland most likely playing the three transition years in either Reno or Sacramento, but in the grand scheme of things, Oakland moving says John Fisher didn’t learn from other Bay Area entities.

Over the past weekend, San Jose State football had their first home game of the season in their newly renovated stadium with new facilities. Building these facilities and having their first game sell out with approximately 22,000 people, a number the A’s would love to have averaged this season, SJSU has the ability to attract big recruits, which will give them a better chance to win games, which in theory can bring more money to the school and an area of San Jose.

The San Jose Earthquakes opened their $100 million stadium that fits 18,000 in 2015 and even with an average team, the stadium is an attraction in the city (they just need better parking). These new facilities in San Jose aren’t just money makers for the organizations, but they make the area they’re in an attraction.

A sign at one of the A’s games said “Fisher should learn from the Quakes” and that sign may go on deaf ears, but it is the sad realization of where we are in this Oakland/Vegas location conversation, all that needed to be done was to build something new. 

In one of the most famous baseball movies ever, Field of Dreams, the most famous quote from the film is “if you build it they will come”, this quote contextually explains that if you build a baseball field, even in the middle of a corn field, people will show up to watch them play baseball.

In a city that lost the football team that was a cultural representation of the city, then lost the best basketball team of the last decade, and is experiencing a poverty problem that is reminiscent of Detroit after the 70’s, to lose a baseball team with such history would devastate the city to possibly irreversible magnitudes, especially if it’s announced after the season. 

Troy Ewers is a beat reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: MLB teams relocation threats are to get local tax money for improvements

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Camden Yards in Baltimore, John Angelos and family who own the Baltimore Orioles want improvements on the ballpark. They were offered $600 million from the state of Maryland and the Angelos wants more they want to build a downtown complex for hotels, retail, offices, and to own the land if not the team will relocate possibly to Nashville (AP file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, there are now seven MLB clubs who are interested in relocating for various reasons how much of a role did A’s owner John Fisher play in opening the door to relocation in his case Las Vegas and now MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred can capitalize on mass taxpayer municipalities who will feel like hostages to try and keep their teams.

#2 All of sudden the idea of relocating might not be half a bad idea they could get expansion money out of it or best yet they can get state and local tax money to do the relocation and best yet baseball doesn’t have to worry about the relocation fees.

#3 Daniel, tell us about the teams who are interested in moving unless their local government comes up with tax payer money for stadium improvements or to pay for new stadiums are Tampa Bay, Arizona, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Angels.

#4 It was stated the national past time is not designed to be there for generations of fans, loyal fans, long time season ticket holders it’s there for the mean green almighty dollar and to serve the MLB owners including Fisher.

#5 At Howard Terminal where the A’s originally were going to try and move to before A’s team president David Kaval said the A’s had a binding agreement in Vegas. The A’s are suing longtime Howard Terminal tenant Schnitzer Steel for toxic waste. There is also an investigation into why Schnitzer has had fires at their plant between 2018-2020, there have been five fires involving hazardous materials at the plant. Schnitzer had a most recent fire last Wed Aug 16th.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s could be playing in San Francisco after 2024

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NBC Bay Area TV’s Raj Mathai (left) and Oakland A’s owner John Fisher (right) do an exclusive interview in Fisher’s home on Wed Aug 23, 2023 (NBC Bay Area photo)

A’s could be playing in San Francisco after 2024

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval, who was in Oakland recently prior to a game for the A’s team photo, narrowed the Oakland A’s temporary home (while they build in Las Vegas) to three sites, including Oracle Park in San Francisco.

This was reported by the Independent of Las Vegas, The A’s could make an early leap to Las Vegas in 2025, right after 2024 which is already set for the A’s to be played at Oakland, However, if the A’s and Giants come to an agreement, the A’s could be playing 30 to 40 “home” games at Oracle Park in 2025.

The Oakland A’s have submitted their application for relocation to Major League Baseball, owner John Fisher told ESPN, putting the team one step closer to becoming the Las Vegas A’s. Now it is all up to the MLB owners to approve.

A’s owner John Fisher answering to the cry of A’s fans to “sell the team”says: “I have not considered selling the team” and added “I’ve now owned the team with my partner Lew Wolff, it’s shocking really how the time time flies, but since 2005”.

Meanwhile the group “Schools not Stadiums” from Las Vegas still lobbying for the city of Las Vegas not to build a parks for the Oakland Athletics.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada Schools over Stadiums initiative could be last line of defense to save A’s in Oakland

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A benefit gathering to stop the use of Nevada public funds to build a Las Vegas A’s new stadium at the Tropicana and to get a referendum on the Nevada ballot to stop use of public funds for the ballpark. Members from Schools over Stadiums, the Oakland 68s, also former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan (in purple dress), and the Nevada State Education Association president Dawn Ectheverry to Quan’s right . (photo from @jeanquan)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel the Nevada Schools over Stadiums group who are ran by the Nevada State Education Association. The NSEA held a fund raising benefit for Schools over Stadiums which included the Oakland 68s a Oakland A’s fan group who are pushing the green Sell shirts and for A’s owner John Fisher to sell the A’s to someone that will keep them in Oakland. The benefit included former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and NSEA president Dawn Etcheverry. The benefit was on Thu Aug 17 in Oakland.

#2 Quan said that she is confident that the referendum will have enough signatures to make it on the ballot for spring and the former mayor said that it has a good chance of winning.

#3 Etcheverry said some districts in Nevada are starting the school year with 40% or more in teacher vacancies. Nevada has the highest teacher vacancies in the nation and are number 49 in education.

#4 Former San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly said that despite state increases Nevada teachers remain amongst the lowest in the US with the largest class sizes.

#5 Schools over Stadiums are asking the public’s in help to fund the campaign to fight the Nevada State legislature who are planning to give the A’s $380 million in public funds for the Tropicana ballpark.

#6 The teachers from the NSEA, Mayor Quan, and the Oakland 68s will be at the Oakland Coliseum for the next reverse boycott this Sat Aug 19 vs. the Baltimore Orioles and they will be seeking the A’s fans support for the ballot initiative to stop the use of public funding for the Vegas ballpark over education.

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

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: SRS’s Amaury speaks out on A’s ownership; Orioles announcer Brown back after suspension; plus more

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Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez said in a recent interview that if Oakland A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland the following week (photo provided by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

On the MLB The Show Podcast with Charlie O:

#1 One of the biggest quotes coming out of the San Francisco Chronicle interview with Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez on Thursday saying, if A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland next week, also saying that Fisher was not professional for the way he relocated the A’s and that he didn’t want the A’s to leave Oakland he wants them to stay. The interview has gone viral in the baseball community on social media.

#2 Baltimore Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown’s suspension ended on Saturday in time for him to broadcast the Orioles and Seattle Mariners game. Brown was suspended five games for negative comments regarding the Orioles loosing records in previous seasons. The Orioles are in first place this season. Brown also said that the Orioles have had a losing record against the Tampa Bay Rays. The fans during the suspension chanted “Free Kevin Brown” and owner John Angelos received lots and lot of emails regarding the Brown suspension that became a national story.

#3 San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling showed catcher Blake Sabol an article on his phone when they were in Anaheim to play the Angels last week showing that Sabol would be part of a package to get Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani. Stripling said to Sabol, ” Sabes, I love you but we would have to do this” Sabol said “Yeah I get it.” Ohtani would fetch up to $600-800 million after this season on the free agent market. The Dodgers and Angels are the front runners in the Ohtani sweepstakes.

#4 The Giants who nearly signed Carolos Correa for $350 million for 13 years as the Giants nearly introduced Correa to the media before finding out that he failed a physical. Then failing another physical with the Mets eventually signing $200 million with the Minnesota Twins. Correa in 109 games with the Twins has hit .230, 15 home runs, and has 54 RBIs. Has Correa underperformed the Twins expectations?

#5 The Los Angeles Dodgers long awaited ceremony for pitcher Fernando Valenzulea arrived on Friday night when the Dodgers retired his number. Fernando Fever arrived in the Southland in 1980 when Valenzuela arrived pitching for the Dodgers until 1990 and playing for Angels, Orioles, Padres, before retiring with the Cardinals in 1997. Fernando in case many of you don’t know is a class act, he acts like a regular guy and not this legendary figure, the honor the Dodgers gave him was well deserved.

Join Charlie O for the MLB The Show podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com