Tag: Sutter Health Park

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s say they’re in good shape on ballpark construction costs won’t need to use all $380 million of state money

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Sandy Dean a family business partner of Oakland A’s owner John Fisher addresses the Las Vegas Stadium Authority at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Thu Jul 18, 2024 regarding the financing of the Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip. (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Las Vegas Stadium Authority was notified by the Oakland A’s that they are in good financial standing and will not need to use all of the $380 million in public funds to pay for the construction towards the Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip.

#2 The Stadium Authority met with Sandy Dean on Thursday. Dean a business partner with Oakland A’s owner John Fisher said the team is in “good shape” asked how the A’s are in good shape and where the finances were coming from to cover the $1.2 billion in construction costs Dean didn’t comment.

#3 Dean stated at the meeting that the A’s intend to use $350 million of the $380 million in public funds. Dean said the A’s never planned to use the full amount and that the remaining funding will be off set by debt financing.

#4 Public financing of the ballpark comes from transferable credits $180 million coming from the State of Nevada, another $120 million coming from Clark County bonds, and county infrastructure costs will run $25 million. So it looks like Nevada is ready to pitch in for their share of the costs.

#5 Still after the meeting the question of where Fisher was going to come up with his share of the construction costs at $1.2 million was an issue. In a March 2024 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle Fisher told the paper that payments for the construction costs at $200 million from debt, $500 million from the Fisher family, and another $500 million from investors. It’s mid July and there has been no word on where the money is coming from from Fisher’s share of the construction costs other than Dean saying the A’s are in “good shape” to cover the costs on the public money.

#6 News out of Sacramento Vivek Ranadive said that he’s prepared to spend millions for improvements to upgrade the park to MLB specs over the off season as the A’s will open the 2025 season at Sutter Health Park. The discussion of playing on turf has the Players Union concerned and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said all they have to do is put some water on the turf and that should cool things off and solve the problem.

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

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s have escape clause out of Las Vegas

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Rending of the Armadillo ball park the Oakland A’s plan to build at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino expected to be finished by 2028 at Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd on the strip. (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Oakland A’s have an escape clause out of their 30 year deal at the Tropicana if the A’s were to be taxed. The idea of not taxing the A’s is to keep them in Las Vegas for the 30 years commitment.

#2 The Clause is that if the A’s are taxed different than any other business the will have an out. For example if you go to a show in Vegas your taxed 9% but if you go to a sporting event there is no sales tax on the ticket.

#3 You might recall last year during the Nevada State Legislation A’s team president David Kaval was asked if the A’s were willing to pay the tax. Kaval did not give a yes or no answer but said he and the A’s do not contemplate getting taxed. If A’s players or opposing players are taxed the A’s can exercise the right to move from Las Vegas.

#4 During last year’s presentation to the State Legislature Steven Hill who was one of the key sportspersons to sell the idea of moving the A’s to Vegas said that the projected annual profit the A’s will bring in the neighborhood of $1.3 billion. Most economists have said that is optimistic over reach.

#5 Lastly it should be noted that the Bay Area will be hosting World Cup and the Super Bowl in 2026. What does that say in the face of it for a market this size the sixth largest as the A’s walk away from the Bay Area after this season and will play three years in the 35th TV market in Sacramento and move to Las Vegas in 2028 the 40th sized market.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Raiders rank #1 in ticket sales can the A’s do the same in Vegas?

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Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas home of the Las Vegas Raiders who are number one in tickets sold in the NFL. The Oakland A’s hope to duplicate that if and when they move into the Tropicana Hotel and Resort location in Las Vegas as planned in 2028 (USA Today file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Las Vegas Raiders moved up three spots in the NFL rankings in ticket sales to number one for the second year. The Raiders do sell a lot of tickets to fans from the visiting teams but none the less they are at the number position at tickets sold is this something that the Oakland A’s are looking at in terms of possible tickets sold.

#2 Baseball could be different in ticket sales as less fans travel with their teams like they do in the NFL and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday baseball has been noted for small crowds. The A’s are depending on sellouts to make their payments for the Vegas ballpark how much pressure does that put on them?

#3 Once again owner John Fisher and the A’s are depending on the Los Angeles investor to find investors to buy shares into the team and turn around and put money into the construction costs for the ballpark at the Tropicana without it the A’s could look elsewhere. Would you agree the situation at hand things are very much still up in the air?

#4 In some on line interviews with fans they say this is the last time they’ll be coming to see MLB and they will leave the game once the A’s leave Oakland do you find the sentiment has pretty much been echoed throughout the fan base?

#5 The A’s are setting their sights for the interim for Sacramento for 2025-2027 they will play in a park that seats 14,014 and will be the smallest facility in MLB. The A’s once again the Tropicana is built will continue to play in the smallest venue in MLB at 30,000.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer 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: A’s to play home games in Sacramento in 2025; As the Park Turns – What Sacramento will not ask the A’s

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Outside of Sutter Health Park a simulated West Sacramento Bridge slide next to the real one equipped with glove in the children’s playground. Sutter Health Park will be the home of the 2025-28 Oakland A’s while the Tropicana Ballpark in Las Vegas will be constructed and ready by 2028. (photo by Sutter Health Park)

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s will be playing their 2025 season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento as the A’s and Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive have come to agreement and pathway for the A’s to play all their home games in Sacramento. The details of the plan are forthcoming at the end of the week according to Sactown Sports.

The A’s announced Tuesday after they reviewed the “leaked to the media” proposal/offer to the A’s to extend their Coliseum lease for five years (minimum of three) for $97 million plus other demands. The A’s put a press release stating that they did not agree and that no further meetings were planned with Oakland officials. This long A’s stadium saga is not as long as ‘As the World Turns”, the legendary TV Soap Opera that ran on CBS for 54 years. But it is becoming like the Telemundo “Esmeralda”.

Nobody knows how this is going to end. Many say, “It is not a done deal,” leaving from Oakland to Las Vegas. I agree that the only “done deal” in life are taxes and death and that The Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel has closed its doors after more than six decades of memories. The famed venue, home to the city’s longest-running cabaret, The Folies Bergere, nearly made it to its 67th anniversary before closing on Tuesday, April 2. We know these things are a “done deal”.

However, we know that Sacramento will not ask for the following:

1-Sacramento will not ask the A’s for $97 million to play there for three years or maybe five. 2-They will not ask the A’s to sell half of their stake in the Alameda-County Coliseum, among other demands Oakland had in that proposal, including extending their lease. Oakland is not Sacramento.

However, Sacramento is especially interested in the A’s because, as a “trial for a few years” at Sutter Park, if they get the A’s, they are banking that they can prove to Major League Baseball that their city of Sacramento should be seriously considered for a future expansion team.

Sutter Park’s 14,000-plus capacity is not MLB standard, but for the A’s in the last few years, including the first home stand this 2024 season, that is a good crowd. Opening Night at Oakland 2024 last Thursday, 13,522 fans attended the game against Cleveland, and at least half were rooting for the Guardians, maybe more. The A’s fans’ noise came from the crowd boycotting in the parking lot.

But let’s get to the point. David Samson was the President of the Major League Miami Marlins from 2002 to 2017. He was involved with the new Marlins Park next to Little Havana in Miami—the ins and outs of the new Marlins Park.

Samson hosts “Nothing Personal,” a top-rated podcast. He has been following the A’s stadium situation for a long time. This is what Mr. Samson said a day before the A’s met with the City of Oakland, and they did not agree to the 3-5 year extension at the Oakland Coliseum. By the way, Samson also predicted that nothing would be decided upon during the meeting (the third) between the A’s and Oakland. He has experience as an MLB team President, especially when his team, the Marlins, was building their new ballpark, which they play today,

Mr. Samson said this on his podcast: “The A’s need to find a stadium to play before Las Vegas Stadium if they even open. In other words, they need to get a deal in Sacramento and negotiate a deal with their TV partner. Figure out the logistics with the Rivercats.

They have to make sure it is a Major League-ready facility and what this is code for; it doesn’t mean the fans have to have concession stands or that there is good ingress and egress. When you say Major League ready, all that means is players’ facilities behind the scenes you do not see as a fan. It means the weight room, the food room, how the players get to the clubhouse, how they get to the bullpen, all the pleasures and comfort that Tony Clark loves to make sure players enjoy during the season.” (quote)

Commissioner Rob Manfred is under pressure to deliver a playing baseball-ready park for the Oakland A’s while building their new facility in Las Vegas, expected to be ready for Opening Day 2028. Manfred said MLB needs a schedule.

The other teams (including the A’s) deserve a schedule very soon; that is the norm. Tony Clark is the Executive Director of the Major League Players Association. Sure, he will have to say that if Sutter Park is a “baseball-ready” facility, everybody knows it is a minor league park, but the A’s are running out of options. The A’s and the City of Oakland have been butting heads for a long time. Some say today (Wednesday), Sacramento might have a deal in place.

The Next chapter is being scripted.

Adiós.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s listening to Sacramento for interim Sutter Health Park possibilities

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Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento home of the San Francisco Giants triple A minor league Sacramento River Cats. The Oakland A’s could call it home starting in the 2025 season if the Rivercats and A’s reach a lease agreement. (photo by visitsacramento.com)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Oakland A’s need to get a deal in gear and soon as MLB is pressed to get the schedules ready for the 2025 season by July.

#2 Manfred addressed Tony Clark and the players union to sign off on the A’s playing and using Sutter Health Park a minor league facility in Sacramento because there is not much time left.

#3 The A’s brass of John Fisher and David Kaval are to meet with Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive on Wednesday and sources have it that they’ll get a deal done at a much less asking price that the Oakland Coliseum was asking for.

#4 The Coliseum asking price was $17.5 million per season over what the A’s are currently pay at $1.5 million. The Coliseum was asking for $19.4 million per season. Also A’s owner John Fisher would walk away from $70 million in TV money from NBC California.

#5 If the A’s accept the deal on Wednesday this season will mark the final time the A’s will play in Oakland once they leave for Sacramento and later Las Vegas. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said “Oakland made a fair and reasonable offer to the A’s. We await their response and look forward to continuing discussions as necessary.” Thao is also facing a recall and a deficit for Oakland’s next fiscal year.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Sutter Health Park Sacramento could be A’s landing spot in 2025

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Sutter Health Park in Sacramento could be the home of the Oakland A’s for the 2025 season. Nothing official yet from the A’s on playing their games there in 2025. (Mrmingbean file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s will be hosting a public event similar to a Fan Fest in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada at $125 a pop. This public event could be scene as a barometer and how many fans will attend and how many will season tickets they’ll sell of 2028.

#2 The renderings still have not been unveiled as of yet and the A’s have not revealed their financing plans for the park. Also they have not announced where they will play after the 2025 season although insiders say they are leaning towards the San Francisco Giants triple A park in Sacramento Sutter Health Park.

#3 The A’s have a deal with NBC Sports Bay Area through the 2033 season and NBC would pay on that contract so long as the A’s play their games in the Bay Area. A’s team president David Kaval said knowing Sacramento is outside the Bay Area NBC would not be obligated to pay on the deal.

#4 There has been talked that both the A’s and NBC Bay Area would reach a middle ground on the contract and the A’s would get a reduced amount on the contract that would pay less than the $67 million that they got in 2023 season.

#5 A deal between the City of Oakland beyond 2025 looks impossible. The A’s and the City are not on good terms and the fact that the City and A’s never got to the point to where they could make Howard Terminal a reality plays into playing at the Coliseum in 2025 unlikely as negotiations had broke down before their decision to move to Las Vegas. Also the A’s fans and A’s owner John Fisher look like they will not be patching things up anytime soon. The A’s could play 30-40 of their home games at Oracle Park home of the Giants and the rest in Sacramento.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com