Tag: Strong Public Schools

Oakland A’s Relocaton podcast with Daniel Dullum: Kaval meets the media before A’s pre season game in Las Vegas

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Rendering of Las Vegas Tropicana ballpark part of the Armadillo series (renderings presented by the Oakland A’s)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel you had a chance to look at the future Las Vegas A’s Tropicana Ballpark which has been referenced as a Sydney Opera Place look a like or a Armadillo which Oakland A’s owner John Fisher seems to take as a compliment.

#2 It’s a multilayered roof which has area that look out from behind the home plate and the outfield window has a view of Las Vegas Blvd where you could see the New York New York casino and hotel.

#3 Ironically when Fisher gave comments about the Armadillo renderings he was speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle from his Jack London Square offices where the A’s dream of having a ballpark is all but dead once the A’s start play in Las Vegas in 2028.

#4 Fisher also said the financing has been figured out $380 million from the State of Nevada, $200 million will be money owed, and the Fisher Family will pay $500 million this would include equity investors. The catch could be whose going to be on the hook for the final $500 million. Could that come from another investor group or will Fisher have that unsolved for the rest of the baseball season?

#5 When you look at all of it Daniel and we’ve talked to fans and analysts like yourself it seems that Schools over Stadiums is a long shot but the last chance to get an initiative on the November ballot that would stop the public money for financing the Tropicana. The other is the lawsuit filed by Strong Public Schools who say the Nevada Legislature’s vote was suppose to be a two thirds vote not a majority vote.

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

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Augie:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Augie:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MLB podcast with Michael Duca: A’s getting lots of publicity in Vegas during Super Bowl week; SF Giants latest deals

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman is in talks with the San Francisco Giants as of Thu Feb 8, 2024 (AP News file photo)

On the MLB podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael, when Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman says the A’s should stay in Oakland, that the A’s need to live their dream with a waterfront ballpark and they don’t have any plans is that not only truthful talk but also from a mayor whose city will not reap the financial benefits from a team that will be playing in unincorporated city like Paradise?

#2 It’s Super Bowl week and with Mayor Goodman speaking out on the A’s and grabbing headlines from football what does that say about how important relocating teams the wrong way in baseball?

#3 Michael, talk about the lawsuit by Strong Public Schools that argues the public money for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark was not voted on legitimately by the Nevada State Legislature back in April. That the legislature was supposed to vote on SB1 as a two thirds vote not by a majority. Strong Public Schools say they have a strong case and it could take down what is now looking like a house of cards for the Tropicana, the A’s and MLB.

#4 Michael switching over to the San Francisco Giants are talking with Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman talk about his chances of coming over to San Francisco and what it would mean to have him in the line up everyday?

#5 The Miami Marlins Jorge Soler is in talks with the Giants. Soler is in the final year of his three year $36 million contract and had opted out for agency. Soler is a right fielder and designated hitter he hit .250 with 36 home runs last season how do you see Soler helping out in the Giants line up for 2024?

Join Michael Duca Thursdays for the MLB podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com