Even The Mayor Of Las Vegas Wants The A’s To Stay In Oakland
The Oakland A's are set to move to Las Vegas in the next few years, thanks in large part to a substantial investment from Nevada taxpayers.
After decades in the Bay Area, the announcement received a mixed reception. A's ownership and Nevada leadership were thrilled, with new revenue opportunities available thanks to a brand new stadium set to be built on the Las Vegas strip. Oakland fans were, understandably, frustrated and disappointed, reacting with organized events designed to pressure owner John Fisher to sell the team.
Even current players weren't happy, with one saying that "nobody wants the Las Vegas A's."
READ: MLB Player Blasts Relocation: 'Nobody Wants The Las Vegas A's'
And now there's another prominent individual speaking out against the impending move: the mayor of Las Vegas itself.
Front Office Sports spoke to Mayor Carolyn Goodman for a podcast, during which she criticized the team's plans for the new stadium on the site of the Tropicana Hotel. But it's not just the site itself she doesn't like; Goodman doesn't want the team in the city at all. "I personally think they’ve got to figure out a way to stay in Oakland," she said. What a ringing endorsement for the Las Vegas A's!
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 26: General views of the Las Vegas Sign on June 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
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There's no one to blame for this mess other than current and former team ownership. Las Vegas has shown it can support professional football and professional hockey, with an NBA team a near certainty. But Major League Baseball has the longest season in sports, meaning fan interest is key to avoiding the dismal attendance figures seen in cities like Tampa and Oakland.
John Fisher and previous ownership showed little interest in building a competitive team for the long run, instead viewing MLB ownership as a venue for real estate investment. For years, the A's, despite low payrolls and a dismal stadium, showed an ability to develop young talent. Only to see that talent leave for greener pastures as soon as they reached free agency.
Small market teams frequently avoid expensive players, but the A's took frugality to a whole new level. Unsurprisingly, fans stopped supporting a team that had no interest in being competitive. If that's the type of management style Fisher brings to Vegas, they'll run into the same attendance problems, no matter how new and exciting their stadium is.
Usually, team moves are met with excitement on the part of the destination city, but based on Goodman's comments and player reactions, it's the exact opposite with the A's. Maybe the real answer to this problem is what A's fans have been clamoring for since the Las Vegas discussions started: for John Fisher to sell the team.