video by @kron4tv
As discussions of the Oakland A's possible relocation to Las Vegas intensify, city officials in Oakland are making one last push to keep the team in their hometown. The city aims to clarify the team's relocation efforts and address misconceptions about their search for a new home in Oakland. These efforts coincide with the ongoing debate in the Nevada Legislature on allocating nearly $400 million in public funds to support the A's construction of a $1.5 billion, 30,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof on the Las Vegas Strip.
An updated fact sheet on the Howard Terminal project released earlier this week underlines Oakland's desire for the A's to remain in the city. The document also highlights that, although the Las Vegas proposal includes nearly $400 million in public financing for the stadium, the A's never requested public subsidies for an Oakland ballpark. Instead, $900 million in public funds were designated for offsite infrastructure, onsite infrastructure, parks, open spaces, and affordable housing.
Oakland officials also challenge the narrative that the A's have spent 20 years and $200 million in their quest for a new home in the city. The fact sheet reveals that the team spent nine of those years attempting to move to Fremont and San Jose, only starting to explore a location at Laney College in Oakland six years ago before shifting their focus to the Howard Terminal site in 2018. The city has invoiced the A's $8 million for work, time spent by city staff, consultants, and external legal counsel.
Mayor Rebecca Kaplan took to Twitter to address any misconceptions, tweeting directly at Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. She pointed out that he may not have accurate information about the situation in Oakland and clarified that the city took action to advance two crucial development sites for the A's, referring to both the larger site at the Coliseum and the smaller site at Howard Terminal.
Kaplan further tweeted that the A's have completely changed their plans, no longer intending to build extensive housing, parks, retail, and commercial development or even an entertainment district. Instead, they now want to lease a small site for a ballpark. The success of this strategy and whether A's owner John Fisher is genuinely interested in staying in Oakland remains uncertain. A vote on the Las Vegas proposal could take place before the Nevada Legislative session concludes on June 5th.
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