It looks as if the MLB’s Athletics could be the next professional sporting franchise to leave Oakland, as Major League Baseball has given The A’s permission to explore new options.
Disputes between the franchise and the city center around the request for a new stadium. The Athletics’ lease of RingCentral Coliseum is set to expire in 2024, and negations between both parties have made little progress in relations to the current condition of the stadium.
Naturally, the team would like to see the entire coliseum rebuilt with modern appointments, but negotiations centered around an upgrade of the current site also appear to fall on deaf ears.
The MLB front offices released an official statement in support of the team’s request for update facilities, and the move would mimmic those seen by the NBA’s Warriors, who moved across the bay to San Francisco, and the NFL’s Raiders, who left California all together.
"The Oakland Coliseum site is not a viable option for the future vision of baseball... We have instructed the Athletics to begin to explore other markets while they continue to pursue a waterfront ballpark in Oakland. The Athletics need a new ballpark to remain competitive, so it is now in our best interest to also consider other markets."
Las Vegas has naturally emerged as the frontrunner for potential destinations, with betting odds listing the option at +175. This would see the franchise departure mirror that of the Raiders, another professional team that saw its growth potential limited by the city of Oakland.
Montreal has surprisingly emerged as the second most favorable option, as the city has a long standing history with the MLB after having served as the home of the Montreal Expos. The Expos competed in the MLB’s National League from 1969 through 2004 before relocating to Washington DC and becoming the Nationals.
"Certainly, Vegas is the obvious choice because of the city's sports tourism,” stated Josh Barton, spokesman of SportsBetting.AG. “But it's not just 16 games to fill seats like the Raiders, we're talking about 82 games a season in the blistering heat. "I think there is value in some of the larger Texas markets like San Antonio and Austin. If they could ever find a way to place a pro sports team between those two cities, you'll have one enormous fan base."
Not only can sports bettors wager on the potential relocation destination of the team, but odds are also available as to when a move would take place.
Betting odds have the Athletics leaving Oakland by the end of 2022 at +110, and while the chances they are still playing in “The Town” at that point are -150, the lines are relatively tight.
MLB Futures Odds have the Athletics favored to win the American League West, and at +800, the team is not far down the board to represent the AL in the World Series.
Where will the A's relocate?
Will the A's relocate by the end of 2022?
Ultimately the decision will all come down to Oakland’s willingness to invest in new facilities, and Athletics’ owner John Fisher made this point clear.
"The future success of the A's depends on a new ballpark... Oakland is a great baseball town, and we will continue to pursue our waterfront ballpark project. We will also follow MLB's direction to explore other markets."
The team’s $12 billion proposal for mixed use complex requires approval from a city council that has been reluctant to discuss the subject. As of now, Oakland’s city council has neither endorsed or scheduled a formal hearing and vote on the proposal, and their response over the next few weeks will be telling as to if this project is anything more than another swing and a miss for Oakland sports fans.
