For Now, Oakland Goes With Ballpark Plan


Numerous reservations were voiced from all parties involved, but the Oakland City Council voted to pass an amended financial terms document that kept negotiations moving forward for a new stadium for the Athletics.

The team made it clear the vote was no before Tuesday’s vote, which set the terms for a $12 billion redevelopment project of the city’s Howard Terminal district to include a state-of-the-art ballpark. will decide the fate of the teamforces it to relocate from the city where it has been played for over 50 years.

Council members, many of whom expressed dislike for the project being negotiated through the news media, voted in favor of the 6-1 preliminary ballot, with one abstention.

Whatever the final margin, deep reservations were expressed on both sides about the viability of the project.

Councilor Dan Kalb said he would “grab my nose” and vote yes. Council chairman Nikki Fortunato Bas stressed that the agreement is only “a roadmap for ongoing negotiations”. And Council Member Carroll Fife said he didn’t understand what members were voting for, citing comments from Athletics head Dave Kaval, who said it was unlikely the team would approve the added changes before voting.

“It looks like we’re voting for something the A’s would turn down,” he said.

Kaval, who attended the meeting, said he was surprised by the changes that would require affordable housing, tenant and displacement protection and environmental measures to be added to the plan.

“It’s really hard for us to vote for something that we don’t have a secret or don’t have time to intimidate,” Kaval said. “It’s hard to understand what kind of road this is.”

After the vote, Mayor of Oakland, Libby Schaaf, released a joint statement with Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kaplan and Bas celebrating the decision.

“Today’s vote by the city council is a milestone in our mission to get the A’s to take root in Oakland and to build a world-class beachside ballpark district that will benefit society for generations to come,” the statement said.

While Tuesday’s vote keeps the process moving forward, a final vote on the project cannot take place until an environmental impact report is ready for approval later this year.

Athletics, with a lease at the Oakland Coliseum to expire in 2024, moved to the city in 1968 and its once-modern facilities are now the fifth oldest active park in the majors behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, and Anaheim Stadium. .

After several failed attempts to build a new park in Oakland over the years and a plan to move to South Bay was thwarted by the San Francisco Giants, Major League Baseball has openly expressed its support for the team to move to a new city. This last offer is dropping.

While the Las Vegas metropolitan area is seen as the leading contender for driving A’s away from Oakland, many other markets will likely try to lure the team.



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