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Oakland A's reportedly moving to Las Vegas: Who is to blame?

posted a year ago by TMC-4 (19427)
9 replies | jump to latest

https://sports.yahoo.com/oakland-as-reportedly-moving-to-las-vegas-who-is-to-blame-191115335.html

The Oakland Athletics have started the process of moving to Las Vegas, leaving countless bitter, angry and disappointed fans in their wake.

This is far from the first time the team has moved. The club originated in Philadelphia in 1901 and stayed there until 1954, when its lack of success paired with its status as an also-ran in the city (thanks to the Philadelphia Phillies) caused it to move to Kansas City, where it was the only team. In 1968, the A's relocated to Oakland, where they've been ever since.

But not for much longer.

When a sports team betrays its fan base by moving, fans want someone to blame. Well, fortunately for them, Yahoo Sports has constructed a blame list, organized from most deserving blame to least. If you're confused about whom to blame for your unhappy feelings, read on for the answer.

[–] rex (2834) a year ago

[deleted]

[–] liscarkat (16576) a year ago

Are they going to build a dome stadium out there? Otherwise they're all dead from heat stroke.

[–] TMC-4 (19427) a year ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/OaklandAthletics/comments/133ei1f/lv_review_journal_athletics_owner_doesnt_deserve/

[LV Review Journal] Athletics owner doesn’t deserve public funding from Las Vegas

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/sam-gordon/athletics-owner-doesnt-deserve-public-funding-from-las-vegas-2769998/?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=topnews&utm_source=homepage&utm_term=Athletics%252520owner%252520doesn%2525E2%252580%252599t%252520deserve%252520public%252520funding%252520from%252520Las%252520Vegas

The Major League Baseball team that plans to play in Las Vegas is not the one the city should want. Nor is it one taxpayers should pay $500 million to pry from its rightful home in the Bay Area.

Las Vegas doesn’t deserve the Oakland Athletics.

The Oakland Athletics don’t deserve Las Vegas.

Expansion remains a far better option for baseball fans in Las Vegas than the pathetic A’s, who have announced plans to purchase 49 acres for a $1.5 billion ballpark west of the Strip.

The Athletics are unapologetically arrogant — a red flag as their prospective relationship with the city intensifies.

Then there’s the more glaring white one that Athletics billionaire owner John Fisher is waving with the composition of his roster, fielding MLB’s lowest opening-day payroll ($57.795 million) and subsequently its worst record (5-23).

“To me, I think (a potential move to Las Vegas) should be all positive on the competitive front,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said last week in a meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors.

“You have smart baseball operations people. You have an owner who wants to win, and I think Las Vegas presents a real revenue-enhancing opportunity.”

https://twitter.com/reviewjournal/status/1652458295162970114

[–] TearofLys (2398) 4 months ago

Oakland is a shithole that loses thousands of residents every year. They don't deserve a major league team. Las Vegas/North Las Vegas is already much larger than Oakland and among the fastest growing cities in the country. It is a destination even without MLB.

[–] Sandman81 (1501) a year ago

The owner for not putting more money into the team, especially when they were really good for so many years and obviously had a great eye for finding talent.

The city for not helping them fund a new stadium. As much as I hate billionaire owners who hold cities hostage in order to get a new stadium built on taxpayer money, the city of Oakland should have been willing to help finance a new stadium that's worthy of a major league team. But they played cheap, and tried to call the A's bluff about leaving. And they got burned.

And the fans for not showing up when this team was really good. It's one thing for attendance to be in the dumps when the team is terrible (like this year) but even all those years when they were winning their division and making the playoffs they still barely drew anyone to games. Part of that could be attributed to the stadium, but none the less fans should show up for a good team. They didn't so they need to have a team.

[–] strntz (10872) 10 months ago

And the fans for not showing up when this team was really good. It's one thing for attendance to be in the dumps when the team is terrible (like this year) but even all those years when they were winning their division and making the playoffs they still barely drew anyone to games.

All the other problems would have resolved themselves naturally if the fans showed up.

[–] MovieChatLiberal (5) a year ago

It's definitely the owner, since he proposed the idea for the A's to move to Las Vegas for more money. He really doesn't care about the team succeeding as long as they're in Sin City. It's sad because Oaklanders really appreciated the team being around, especially as the Warriors and Raiders moved out. It's just a sad time to be an Oakland sports fan.

[–] strntz (10872) 10 months ago

It's definitely the owner, since he proposed the idea for the A's to move to Las Vegas for more money.

Well, yeah. Like it or not, sports is still a business that needs to make money unless you're billionaire Steven Cohen and will run a team at a 100 million loss to buy a championship (or at least try). That's fine (it's his money) but I don't know if there are enough billionaires who are inclined to piss away that much money for personal gratification.

If the A's make money in LV, then the owner did the right thing. I would do the same. The A's fans simply didn't support the team when they were good. The years they made the playoffs showed attendance below MLB averages.

[–] DarthAckbar (848) 10 months ago

Oakland also had 10 years to offer some stadium money, but they never did