The news that the Oakland A’s will move out of Oakland is the latest in a string of disappointments for A’s fans.The relationship between the team, the city, and the fans is at an all time low. A’s fans have taken to “reverse boycotting” in which they tailgate in the parking lot for the duration of the game instead of going into the stadium to watch.
Kasey Kazliner, a former fan of the A’s who has since jumped ship, believes the blame lies not only with the franchise but also with the city.
Kasey Kazliner: The city has had incompetence for a long time. I mean, they haven’t been able to secure a new ballpark, but yeah, it feels betraying I mean, of course, it’s not just the team leaving but it’s the team not having a competitive payroll for the better half of the last few decades and not putting a competitive team on the field many years.
The city also lost professional basketball and football teams in recent years. After the A’s pulled out of a $12 billion plan to build a ballpark the city and the team failed to reach terms to extend their stay in the current stadium.
Starting next season, the Oakland A’s will play in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento with just over 14,000 seats compared to Oakland’s 63,000 seat Coliseum. However, Rob Parker, sports Talk Show Host for Fox Sports Radio, thinks the A’s will be a big hit during their time in California’s capital.
Rob Parker: As a baseball fan, I love the intimate ballparks love to be on top of reaction. Love they had a crack at a bat when you’re that close. So, I think fans will enjoy it and savor it because you know, Sacramento is not going to get a baseball team anytime soon.
There will still be baseball in Oakland for the time being. The A’s have the remainder of the 2024 season to play out and the Oakland Ballers, a new team playing in the independent Pioneer League starts games in May 2024. Kazliner is skeptical about the level of success the Ballers will have.
Kazliner: I honestly think that, you know, the giants are so close, I don’t think the ballers are going to get that big of traction. I think they’re a cool idea. I’m all in support of like small businesses, like small grassroots organizations starting teams, but I don’t really think they’re not going to be good or competitive. And so I think it’s a little bit of a joke.
Parker thinks the A’s eventual move to their new stadium in Las Vegas will finally bring success to their franchise.
Parker: There’ll be an influx of capital for that organization with the new TV deal, you know, with all kinds of new merchandising, with Las Vegas A’s on it, and all kinds of stuff. So I expect things to turn around.
The A’s have gotten off to a 4-7 start this season and sit third out of five in the American League West.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Tobey Groome.