Tag: Schools over Stadiums

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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 podcast: Losing out on the Ohtani sweepstakes has Giants and Angels looking for plan B; Are the 49ers unstoppable? plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Shohei Ohtani in simulated photo in Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels will take a different direction now that Ohtani is signed. (photo by the Athletic)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, How much is the urgency for the San Francisco Giants now that the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani someone the Giants seriously thought. Are the Giants in your view in a desperate moment now that they couldn’t sign players like Carlos Carrera, Aaron Judge now Ohtani.

#2 Has the loss of Ohtani not just for the Giants but as well for the Los Angeles Angels who hired Ron Washington as their manager and are still standing by Mike Trout. Will the directions of these two teams change their direction?

#3 Amaury, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has another great afternoon this time against the Seattle Seahawks went 19-27 for 368 yards threw for two touchdowns and one interception for a 28-16 win. It’s now the 49ers fifth straight win.

#4 The Golden State Warriors lost another close game this time against the Oklahoma City Thunder 138-136. What cost Golden State was the 29 turnovers while the Thunder capitalized with 35 points to just edge out the Warriors. The question is are the Warriors feeling their age as they struggle or are they in a slump and just inconsistent right now.

#5 Amaury, on Dec 5th Schools over Stadiums who are opposed to the $380 million going to build a new ball park on the Las Vegas strip and are appealing a judges ruling to put a referendum on the ballot to stop public funding for the A’s ballpark in Vegas. Point out 21 professors in economic finance all with PhDs from Oklahoma Universities oppose public financing for a new basketball arena for the NBA Oklahoma Thunder. They’re point is education should come first in Oklahoma and not using public funds to build a new arena. This is something that Schools over Stadiums are arguing. Schools over Stadiums are considered the last hope to stop the A’s from having the publicly funded ballpark in Vegas.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary Tuesdays 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?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

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?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Kaval mentions A’s will play in San Francisco after 2024

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s team president said at the MLB owners vote in Arlington that the A’s will play at Oracle Park in San Francisco for the remaining three years 2025-27 until the Tropicana ballpark in ready in 2028 in Las Vegas. The A’s will finish their final year at the Oakland Coliseum in 2024. The A’s said they will not rebrand their name and remain the Oakland A’s during the construction period. (photo by the Oakland Athletics file)

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

#1 Daniel, the results of the MLB owners vote certainly didn’t come as a surprise to anyone?

#2 Schools over Stadiums the Nevada education group trying to stop the public financing of the Tropicana ballpark said that their fight is long from over saying, “@EduOverStadiums has a lawsuit and ballot initiative, but needs funding. Give today if you’re not ready to throw in the rosin bag.”

#3 The A’s will not get local TV money if they play in either Sacramento or Nevada. A’s president David Kaval talked on Thursday that the A’s will play their games on an interim basis at Oracle Park in San Francisco from 2025-27 three season after the conclusion of the 2024 season at the Coliseum.

#4 The Oakland 68’s the A’s largest fan group who last year organized the reverse boycott is calling for an all out boycott for opening day at the Oakland Coliseum when the A’s host the Cleveland Guardians on Thu Mar 28, 2024. The Oakland 68s said for no one show up for the home opener in 2024 after A’s ownership has abandon Oakland. If you thought last season’s crowds were bad 2024’s crowds might draw crowds of 1,000 or less per game.

#5 In essence Daniel, in your opinion is this pretty much a done deal and there is nothing stopping the A’s from leaving Oakland now not even a last ditch effort by Schools over Stadiums?

Daniel Dullum is a MLB beat writer and does the A’s relocation podcasts for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Owners expected to vote yes on moving A’s this week; Could Schools over Stadiums be last hope to block move?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Don’t expect this rendering of the Oakland A’s ballpark as this was a stop gap rendering last summer after the A’s announced they were moving to Las Vegas in Jun 2023. As of yet the A’s have not submitted a rendering or blue prints for their new Las Vegas ballpark and the MLB owners are voting this week to move the A’s to Vegas without a rendering. (Oakland A’s rendering of Tropicana ballpark location)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Major League Commissioner Rob Manfred sounded positive when talking to the news media saying that he is confident that the move by the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas will be just fine. “Vegas is a different kind of market. I think they’re going to be fine.”

It is expected that the MLB owners will get the anticipated 75% to move the A’s to satisfy one of two teams that Manfred wanted moved or get a new ballpark. The A’s failed for the new ballpark part in Oakland in Manfred’s view and is prepared to move the A’s to the Tropicana Hotel and Casino resort on the Las Vegas strip.

The A’s who have been in Oakland since 1968 have won four World Championships there. There was no saving grace that would have convinced the Commissioner that the A’s home should remain in Oakland. Amongst his complaints were the Oakland Coliseum is far outdated and when the sewage backed up and possums were making their home in the press box Manfred was at the end of his rope.

Manfred mentioned that Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao didn’t get anything resolved when she took office and MLB and the A’s had no other choice but to move the team to Vegas. Shao countered by saying that the City of Oakland was within striking distance of a deal with the A’s and Fisher just got up and walked away from a Howard Terminal ballpark deal.

Manfred gave a time limit to the City of Oakland to fix the Coliseum and when that didn’t meet his satisfaction he and A’s owner John Fisher started to research the Las Vegas market. Once they found a few viable location at the Rio and the Tropicana on the Vegas strip they had announced they’re intention of moving to the Rio and later the Tropicana.

The State of Nevada Legislation approved the $380 million in public funds last June and the A’s and MLB fast forward are confident that the owners will pass the A’s relocation request to Las Vegas this week in Arlington. If the owners vote to move the team as expected happens the last hurdle could be Schools over Stadiums who sought to have a petition put together for Nevada residents in four districts to sign.

Schools over Stadiums needs over Stadiums to get over 102,000 signatures approved by the Nevada voter registration to move the referendum on the ballot if approved by the voters in the November 2024 election the referendum would be put on the ballot in an attempt to stop the public funding for the A’s ballpark.

Although some owners for different reasons may not be excited about the A’s leaving the sixth largest media market in baseball to the 40th and smallest market with the smallest ballpark in MLB. Most likely they will as a group will vote for the move as they want to show they are all together as a business group. Also the Kansas City Royals are looking to move and build a brand new stadium in downtown Kansas City and the Milwaukee Brewers are getting $545 million from the state of Wisconsin. Any vote that would involve the owners they want show they are in unison as a group.

There is a lot at work that will have Schools over Stadiums on their heels, the unions in Vegas are very strong on bringing the A’s to the strip because of more job creation. The Culinary union is considered the strongest union in Las Vegas and are heavily behind the effort to move the A’s to Las Vegas. Other unions in Nevada are also on the push for the A’s to come to Vegas because of job growth.

Schools over Stadiums is seen as probably the last chance that Oakland has to try and block the team from moving to Vegas. After a hearing on Mon Nov 6th a Nevada District Court Judge ruled that the language in the petition for Schools over Stadiums needed to be cleaned before Schools over Stadiums can circulate the petition. After the judge disallowed the petition he advised Schools over Stadiums that they could appeal the ruling and they have enough time to get the language fixed as the petition must be ready before the June 2024 deadline to be submitted.

Manfred did pardon Fisher from paying a relocation fee which might be a long shot reason for owners to vote no on the relocation. Owners already are aware that the A’s have received revenue sharing for years and now they’re going to wave the relocation fee. That and the A’s have not produced an updated rendering and blue print, a financial plan for the park, and where is John Fisher’s part to pay for the ball park? These are issues still on the table that need to be addressed and the vote is supposed to be taken this week.

Manfred is waiting for the Tampa Bay Rays and A’s to get their new stadium issues in order and once everything is in place he will consider expansion for one team in the east and west. On that list for expansion mentioned Portland and Salt Lake City in the west and Charlotte and Nashville in the east.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Oakland Mayor hoping to sway owners vote with A’s resolution; Schools over Stadiums to appeal Judge’s ruling

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Howard Terminal rendering. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, City Council, and the Port put on a presentation on Tuesday that City Hall hopes to sway some of the MLB owners to vote no on an A’s relocation (Rendering of Howard Terminal from the Oakland Athletics)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, among the Mayor and the City Council goals in adopting a resolution at City Hall. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the City Council are showed the infrastructure of Howard Terminal, the benefits of having a park at the Terminal and something on the drawing board that might change the MLB owners vote. After today’s meeting do you see owner changing they’re minds and giving the A’s a chance to build at Howard Terminal?

#2 Amaury, the odds are starting to dim and Mayor Thao is hoping for a ninth inning rally to stay in the hunt to persuade the owners vote. Thao says that the city does have a plan and budget to build at Howard Terminal but the A’s walked away. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Oakland had no deal hence Manfred and the A’s are ready to open for business in Las Vegas.

#3 Nevada District Judge James Todd Russell ruled in favor of Oakland A’s lobbyists Danny Thompson and Thomas Morely who took Schools over Stadiums to Monday’s court hearing in District court to throw out Schools over Stadiums attempt to put a referendum on the Nov 2024 ballot to stop public funding for a Las Vegas A’s ballpark and that funds should be used to support schools.

#4 Judge Russell said that Schools over Stadiums would have to refile their petition and that Schools over Stadiums would need to use the full text of SB1 or appeal the case to a higher court.

#5 Thompson and Morely didn’t respond to media inquiries for comments. Schools over Stadiums spokesman Alexander Marks made it clear that they will appeal saying the decision was disappointing but not uncommon adding that Schools over Stadiums plans to refile the referendum and that there is plenty of time to refile as the signature deadline is June of 2024.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead radio 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

Oakland A’s relocation podcast: Mayor to present resolution on Howard Terminal at Tuesday press conference; Could it change owners vote for A’s relocation?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has called for a press conference for Tue Nov 7, 2023 to present a resolution in an attempt to keep the A’s in Oakland. This presentation is in hopes that MLB owners would change their A’s relocation vote to a no vote on Nov 14-16 in Arlington. (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

On the A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Former Oakland A’s executive Andy Dolich wrote his own commentary in the Mercury News telling MLB owners to vote no on the A’s move to Las Vegas and keep them in the sixth largest market in Oakland and go back and finish negotiating with the Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the city of Oakland.

#2 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, the Oakland City Council, and the Port of Oakland are holding a press conference on Tue Nov 7 at Oakland City Hall regarding a proposal to keep the A’s in Oakland. Although a deal and a plan is already worked out to relocate the A’s upon the MLB owner vote Nov 14-16th in Arlington. The City of Oakland could use litigation to stop MLB and the Oakland A’s from relocating the team if the City can get a deal to build a Howard Terminal ballpark and show they can produce financing to keep the team in Oakland.

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

World Series MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Game 1 was lowest rated ever; Football outdrawing World Series in TV ratings; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly delivers against the Texas Rangers in game 2 of the World Series on Sat Oct 28, 2023 at Globe Life Field in Arlington (AP News photo)

On World Series MLB The Show podcast with Stephen:

#1 Game 1 of this 2023 World Series has gone down in MLB history was the lowest rated and least watched World Series of all time. Game 1 drew 9.18 million which is 100,000 less than the previous low the 2020 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays.

#2 Right now football is outdrawing the World Series. As expected two the Las Vegas Raiders and Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football outdrew game 3 of the World Series. Some say the season is long and when the Fall Classic comes. It’s too late in October early November fans would say “enough already” regarding the long schedule of 162 regular season games.

#3 Should baseball shorten it’s schedule to end the regular season by from 162 games to 154 or start the post season by September 15th. As it is right now the World Series will lap over into the first week of November.

#4 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is considering reducing the amount of pitchers that a team can carry. Teams can carry on 13 pitchers the league average per start was down this past season.

#5 Stephen, we didn’t get a chance to get your opinion regarding Manfred’s comments before game 1 of this World Series where he said that Schools over Stadiums ballot referendum is a “significant development” he left little doubt that the initiative could block financing for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark and that would leave the deal dead.

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

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Las Vegas Stadium Authority wants to break ground for A’s ballpark April 2025; Schools over Stadiums ready to fight lawsuit

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Proposed renderings of the Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas strip at Tropicana and Las Vegas Avenue. The Las Vegas Authority announced this week that construction is scheduled to begin December 2025. (image from the Oakland Athletics)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Las Vegas Stadium Authority said they are ready to break ground at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino location for the Las Vegas A’s ballapark. Construction company Mortenson-McCarthy the A’s ballpark manager will be handling the building of the new park.

#2 In a community group engagement plan the Stadium Authority presented details of how minority and diverse businesses and vendors will play a part during the construction of the park.

#3 The plan also said that 51 percent of the construction will be done by minority, disabled and diverse groups and 15 percent of the construction work will be done by small local businesses sub contractors.

#4 Two law firms Hunton Andrews Kurth and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck will be doing legal work for the A’s will negotiate on the A’s business dealings on various agreements. The Authority approved $1 million for legal fees for the law firms to represent the A’s in the business side of the venture.

#5 Meanwhile Schools over Stadiums is still on the march trying to get petitions in four Nevada Districts ready to submit for a ballot initiative to stop the use of public monies towards the A’s ballpark. A lawsuit filed against Schools over Stadiums by Attorney Bradley Schrager who represents the A’s stating the initiative is misleading and the words on the petition language are misstated.

#6 Schools over Stadiums spokesman Alexander Marks said of the A’s lawsuit  “Suing educators trying to put schools first sets a terrible tone for an organization claiming to now care about our community.” Alexander added that he’s confident that the referendum will go forward.

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