Tag: Salt Lake City

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB The Frontrunners for Expansion

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

According to sources the top three cities that MLB and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred are considering for expansion are Utah, Portland and Nashville. Cities that look like their out of the hunt for expansion Oakland and Montreal two former MLB towns. (AP News photo)

MLB:The Frontrunners for Expansion

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Oakland is never going to get an expansion team in Major League Baseball. John Fisher folded his tent in Oakland and took the Circus on a crusade to Sacramento, with Las Vegas as their ultimate stop. John Fisher killed Major League Baseball in Oakland.

But currently, two cities are leading the race for expansion. Portland, Oregon, and Salt Lake City, Utah. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that he hopes to have the expansion process in place before his term ends in January 2029. –

Numero Uno: Portland seems to be ahead and a leading contender for one of the two expansion cities. Portland is pursuing a team through its Portland Diamond Project. They have strong civic support and plans for a stadium.

A final ownership group of people with financial resources is still needed; the largest city in Oregon is leading the way. The Portland Trail Blazers are the only professional team in the top leagues: the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. The State of Oregon has a total population of 4,280,000, of which 635,000 live in Portland, its largest city.

-Numero Dos: Salt Lake City. They are preparing to be a potential Major League Baseball expansion city. They are developing a 100-acre Power District, for mixed use that includes a site for their future ballpark, together with housing, retail and green spaces.

The construction of that district is underway and basically waiting for MLB through their Commissioner Rob Manfred to select them as a one of the two new major league towns. The State of Oregon population is 4.5 million and Salt Lake City their largest city with 218,000 residents.

Officials in Salt Lake City said that they intend to be “shovel-ready” for the job, if a team is awarded. In the State of Utah there are two teams among the top pro-sports league. The Utah Jazz in the NBA and The new NHL team, the Utah Mammorth which officially began play in the 2024–25 season.

Last two: The last expansion teams in MLB history were the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Rays, which began play in 1998. Currently, MLB has 30 teams, the NBA has 30, the NFL has 32, and the NHL has 32. Major League Soccer (MLS) does not rank higher than the MLB, NBA, NFL or NHL in terms of average franchise valuation or revenue. The main reason I have not listed them.

Happy Halloween!

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Sacramento A’s relocation podcast Daniel Dullum: MLB studying nine cities for expansion

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

A’s Las Vegas ballpark live stream at 3:00pm Fri Aug 29, 2025 (A’s Vegas ball park live stream)

Sacramento A’s relocation podcast: MLB Studying nine cities for expansion

#1 MLB is proposing realignment but there must be expansion before that is to happen. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said there will be shuffling teams into different divisions and MLB is considering adding two more teams from expansion to make realignment work.

#2 There are a multiple cities vying for a MLB team there is a list of the top nine cities who want a MLB franchise but only two would be considered. Those two should be ready to host by 2030.

#3 The top cities being considered, Charlotte, Mexico City, Montreal, Nashville, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Portland, Sacramento, and Oakland. Daniel talk about which two cities has the best chance to get selected.

#4 Since we are doing the A’s relocation podcast talk about your thoughts on the chances of Oakland getting an expansion team.

#5 The pluses for an Oakland expansion team its the tenth largest TV market in the country and the Bay Area has no shortage of corporate sponsorships. Oakland is the largest TV market out of the nine cities mentioned for expansion. Money talks will MLB be smart on the TV market size or keep walking past Oakland?

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

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Oakland an expansion city?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Nine possible expansion cities MLB is considering to expand to (image by Fox Sports)

Oakland an expansion city?

–That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball plans to expand to 32 teams after the Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas and the Tampa Bay Rays secure a new ballpark. So that is not happening tomorrow; it will be a few more years. But could Oakland, California, be one of these expansion teams?

I am not as surprised as others when one of the nine (9) cities named as a candidate for an expansion franchise was Oakland. Oakland is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the top ten media markets in the US.

With Silicon Valley in the South Bay (San José) we are also considered one of the affluent markets in the United States. The primary reason the Oakland A’s left Oakland is the lack of a new stadium and the owner’s desire for a more profitable market.

Owner John Fisher chose Las Vegas, Nevada, the #40 media market in the United States, over the Bay Area, one of the top markets in the country. In other words, Mr. Fisher left a Filet Mignon on the table for a Hamburger.

However, let’s be clear, the Oakland A’s are not returning to Oakland. But, there is a possibility that Oakland could have a new team, an expansion team in the Major Leagues. A brand-new-shinning Oakland logo back in the East Bay.

Stranger things have happened. Although the commissioner has stated that there are no predetermined locations, these nine seem to be the most popular. Charlotte, Mexico City, Montreal, Nashville, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Portland, Sacramento, and Oakland.

In the case of Sacramento (which is currently the temporary home of the A’s, onto Las Vegas in a few years), Sacramento would have to build a brand-new park to meet major league specifications. The key figure in professional sports in California’s capital city is Vivek Ranadivé, and his ownership group, which owns both the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A Affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

Ranadivé extended a hand to John Fisher to bring his A’s to Sacramento temporarily; he could be interested in a major league franchise in his town, an expansion team. Keep in mind, we are talking years in the future.

Joe Lacob and Peter Gruber are the owners of the NBA Golden State Warriors and the WNBA Golden State Valkyries. Could it be that these same owners, who a couple of years ago had an offer to buy the Oakland A’s from John Fisher, would be interested in a new expansion team across the bay?

Makes sense, since they are already invested and very influential in the Bay Area Professional sports scene. México City, México, makes a lot of sense. Major League Baseball’s influence in Latin America continues to grow, with over 30% of Hispanic players born South of the Border among the biggest stars in the world.

Montréal, Canada (which had the Expos for 36 seasons), is also an interesting choice. If they do get an expansion team, it would be the second team in all of Canada, alongside the Toronto Blue Jays, like it used to be.

Let’s face it, Canada, eh… is a nice country, they deserve more than hockey. If the Commissioner wants to make baseball more international, we should expand further north to Canada and south to México. I am only using common sense, but beware; ‘common sense is not very common in 2025’

On managing the expansion Mets: “They’ve shown me ways to lose that I never knew existed.” — Casey Stengel.NY Mets Manager(1962)

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

http://goaquaadventure.com

@Central Park Fremont – Fremont CA

Utah edges LA 3-2 in exhibition game for new NHL franchise

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Utah Hockey Team celebrate a win over the Los Angeles Kings in NHL exhibition at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Mon Sep 23, 2024 (@utahhockeyclub photo)

By Tom Walker

SALT LAKE CITY–Five months ago the National Hockey League announced that the personnel of the Arizona Coyotes had been purchased by the Smith Entertainment Group and would operate as a new NHL franchise in Salt Lake City beginning with the 2024-2025 season. The Coyotes brand was retained by owner Alex Meruelo in the event Arizona is awarded a future expansion team.

For those who wondered whether or not Utah could support an NHL team in addition to the NBA Utah Jazz and MLS Real Salt Lake, both also owned by SEG, all doubt was immediately cast aside as more than 34,000 season ticket deposits were received in a matter of days.

Since that time, anticipation has continued to build as team colors were announced and fans began online voting to name the team for its eventual sophomore season. Though all manner of shirts, hats, and hoodies have made their way onto store shelves throughout the state, even at Costco, fans are looking forward to the arrival of inaugural season jerseys which are being expedited to potentially arrive in November.

On Monday, a packed Delta Center welcomed their new hometown team for its first-ever pre-season game with a loud standing ovation as they took to the ice to square off against the visiting Los Angeles Kings. Prior to dropping the puck, an emotional tribute video honored the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau who were tragically killed by a suspected drunk driver on August 29. Following a 13-second moment of silence, fans were invited to remain standing for the national anthem, immediately followed by the moment everyone had been waiting for.

At 15:04 of the first period, Lawson Crouse gave Utah HC the lead on a power play goal, assisted by Sean Durzi and Matias Maccelli. At the ensuing faceoff, Utah’s Liam O’Brien and the Kings’ Jeff Malott immediately dropped their gloves, much to the delight of a roaring crowd. Moments later, Alex Kerfoot put Utah up 2-0 on another power play goal, assisted again by Durzi and Maccelli, which was the score heading into the locker room at the end of the first period.

The Kings came back in the 2nd period with goals from Jeff Malott and Alex Turcotte to even things up heading into what became a scoreless 3rd.

With the crowd standing and cheering the beginning of overtime, it took only 19 seconds for Clayton Keller to put the puck in the back of the Kings net for the unassisted game winner.

After the game, head coach Andre Tourigny noted that there’s still a lot of rust from the offseason to shake off, and that video from Monday’s game will immediately be used to determine the focus of the next practice.

Utah will now hit the road for their next four pre-season games against Las Vegas, Colorado, San Jose, and Anaheim. They will kick off the regular season with their home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 8.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Are there any comparisons between the Coyotes move to the A’s relocation?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Arizona Coyotes of the NHL will soon make their new home at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City for the 2024-25 NHL season as they played their last game in Tempe Arizona on Thu Apr 17, 2024. The relocation was immediate as opposed to the Oakland A’s who will finish (photo by the Utah Jazz)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, you covered the NHL Arizona Coyotes for years and they’re final game was on Wednesday night in a 5-2 in at Mullet Arena in Tempe which was the final and last game for the Coyotes as they will now move to Salt Lake City. It was a heartbreaking scene how foretelling is this when the Oakland A’s finally play their final game at Oakland Coliseum later this season?

#2 Daniel, You take a look at the fans in Arizona they didn’t have plans to do anything as this deal was floated by the NHL and the owner of the Utah Jazz Ryan Smith wasted no time and took the opportunity to purchase and move the Coyotes with little hesitation.

#3 Daniel, in the Coyotes move they did it a week’s time or less with very little warning. Giving Coyotes fans no time to protest, no time for a reverse boycott, and after the game they basically backed up the truck and called it a day. The feeling for the Coyotes fans that their team was relocating was something of a shock and a lot of heartbreak.

#4 The NHL team in Salt Lake City will be called Utah and no nickname has been discussed yet. They’re last team they had was a minor league AHL team called the Golden Eagles. The Eagles name in the AHL is now the Colorado Eagles. This won’t be a problem for the A’s as the A’s will be known as the A’s in Sacramento and Las Vegas.

#5 The shock value is the thing that everybody is talking about in Arizona that this could happen so fast that a team can relocate that quickly with almost little notice. For the Oakland A’s fans, employees, front office, media and even the players there is a percentage of them will not be going to Sacramento with the A’s when they make the trip north. But as opposed to the Coyotes staff and employees the A’s personnel and contractors have this season to get ready for the layoff and move to Sacramento by season’s end.

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

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Can A’s get past City of Oakland’s expansion demands for Coliseum use? The MLB clock is ticking

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Major League Players Players Association Chief Tony Clark met with Oakland A’s players on Tue Feb 20, 2024 at Hohokam Park in Mesa AZ to discuss their interim Stadium situation for 2025. As players were concerned where they’ll end up. Some players may not opt to play in a minor league park if that’s where the A’s end up playing for the interim. (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, this week in Mesa AZ the A’s spring training facility A’s team president David Kaval said that there are three options available for 2025 Sacramento, Oakland or Salt Lake City. It was reported that Sacramento was the top contender of the three but an A’s source said that the A’s never said anything of the kind and the team is still trying to decide which venue they’ll choose after this season.

#2 To this date it’s still a mystery where the A’s will play for the 2025 season that’s an issue considering baseball wants to get that resolved as they want to have a schedule ready by July.

#3 Representatives from the Major League Baseball Players Union showed up at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa with Union Chief Tony Clark on Tuesday and the players had questions but Clark may not have had much on answers. The fact of the matter still remains the players if it came to a vote and it could will not elect to play in a minor league park.

#4 Not only do the A’s still have their interim location dates open for 2025 but as of today there has been no indication of when renderings and funding plans will be presented. Las Vegas MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle said he was shown three different designs for the next door Tropicana ballpark. Hornbuckle said in an Nevada Independent interview that he would like to start construction at the MGM and wanted to get the pedestrian bridge to the Tropicana ballpark situated and he needs to be on schedule for budget and construction purposes soon.

#5 Pressure is on concerning deadlines not only with the 2025 baseball schedule for July but also when the A’s have a location figured out for 2025 and how travel and budgets can be figured out. Daniel the City of Oakland and the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority asking for a guarantee from MLB that Oakland will get an expansion team before they can play their interim games at the Coliseum. How big of an ask is that? And do you see things getting worked out between all three parties?

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: City of Oakland wants an Expansion team 

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s team president David Kaval has been negotiating with the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority and said the negotiations have been positive from last their last meeting on Thu Feb 15, 2024. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

City of Oakland wants an Expansion team 

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The season for the A’s begins on March 28, 2024, their last year in the lease with the Oakland Coliseum. Working on the premise that the A’s will be playing in Las Vegas by 2028, the City of Oakland and the Oakland A’s are currently negotiating (preliminary talks) to extend the lease for a few more years, possibly 2025-2026-2027—three more years until their inauguration in Sin City.

The City of Oakland wants a guarantee that if the A’s leave, as expected as of today, in return, Major League Baseball will let Oakland have an expansion team. Sheng Thao, the Mayor of Oakland (currently under a recall campaign), might save her job if she can get such a deal.

Still, it is not a sure thing since the main reason for the recall by Oakland citizens is not about the A’s but about the crime in her city and lack of security. A year after she fired the Police Chief, a new Police Chief has not been named yet.

The Oakland Athletics inauguration in Las Vegas is scheduled for 2028, but expansion teams might not come until 2029. Oakland is not seen today as a possible city for an expansion team. Oakland would have to wait in line after Nashville and Salt Lake City, the current front runners for a new franchise. Commissioner Rob Manfred said, as recently as last week, that MLB will name two expansion cities by the time he retires, according to ESPN.

Let’s suppose the A’s move and open in Las Vegas in 2028, just like they have it planned. Oakland might or might not be one of those two expansion teams until 2029, five years from today. But, since Michel de Nostredame, aka Nostradamus, died in 1566, I do not believe there is anybody today alive in ESPN, the New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, the San Francisco Chronicle, or the Wall Street Journal qualified to predict how this is going to end.

BREAKING NEWS: Drakes Brewery, a famous San Leandro brewery, just pulled their sponsorship three days before Fans Fest. Last Dive Bar, one of the organizers wrote on Facebook. The fan group said it had incurred expenses including “sponsor banners, a digital marketing package” and “rented equipment to set up a Drakes beer both.” The Oakland A’s deny they have anything to do with this

Around and around it goes, where does its stops nobody knows”. This was one of the lines from “Major Bowes Amateur Hour” a popular radio show that ran from 1934 to 1948, later made the transition to television as “Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour” and to their credit many stars were discovered in his show, including the one and only Francis Albert Sinatra.

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

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason: Warriors head back to Utah for make up game and relive passing of coach Milojevic

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) takes a jump shot against the Phoenix Suns guard Devon Booker (right) in the second half at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sat Feb 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara:

#1 You would have never know the Golden State Warriors were a tenth place team in the Western Conference as they won their fourth game in a row against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

#2 Warrior guard Stephen Curry hit a three point shot with 0.7 second left to get the Warriors past the Suns with a one point 113-112 win.

#3 The Suns are no easy task they have Kevin Durant who scored with 24 points and Devon Booker who led the Suns in scoring with 32 points. It was an effort but the Suns fell short.

#4 Barbara talk about how important Jonathan Kuminga has been for the Warriors 21 points finished second in scoring and behind Stephen Curry it’s hard to believe the Warriors could trade Kuminga if that’s possible?

#5 Warriors are in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz tonight at 6:00pm this was the site of the passing of assistant coach Dejan Milojevich who died after having dinner with the players and coaches on Jan 17th. This is a make up game as the Warriors were supposed to play the Jazz the next night. They might have to relive that moment a little bit as they head into Salt Lake City.

Join Barbara Mason for the Golden State Warriors podcasts each Monday 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?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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