Oakland Athletics Looking at Potential Waterfront Ballpark
The Oakland Athletics ballpark situation has been a source of frustration for fans and opposing team alike for over a decade, but on Thursday the team could potentially take a step towards finding a new home.
Back when I was in college, I gave a speech about a potential ballpark solution for the A’s that had been in the media at the time. I don’t remember which proposal it was at that time as there have been seemingly endless options over the last decade plus, none of which have come to fruition.
There was the proposed move to Fremont, which is what one owner, Lew Wolff, had been behind so that he could continue to develop his real estate fortune with the surrounding amenities. That deal had territorial rights shoot it down, with the San Francisco Giants claiming nearby San Jose as parts of its reach.
Then there was the waterfront ballpark, which ownership has seemingly never been fond of while the city of Oakland has pushed for it.
Of course there was also the option to build on the current site, either in the parking lot of the current location or on the site of Oracle Arena, where the Golden State Warriors play, when (if) they move.
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Now it looks as if the ownership group is conceding, at least in appearance, to the idea of a waterfront ballpark at Howard Terminal, which is best known for giving George Lucas inspiration for the AT-ATs that appeared in The Empire Strikes Back.
A waterfront ballpark would likely be the best option for the Oakland Athletics to remain in Oakland, and potentially go from having what is widely regarded as one of the worst ballparks to one at the very least that’s not so terrible. Both AT&T Park in San Francisco and PNC Park in Pittsburgh are on the water and are widely regarded as the two best parks in the game.
Really, any new ballpark would be a plus for the Athletics, who are currently the only team in the majors that still share a facility with an NFL team (Raiders), who regularly tear up the Coliseum during their preseason games, which happens to coincide with the A’s early exits from the postseason, essentially leveling the playing field (figuratively) while playing at home.
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Either the Raiders leaving Oakland or the A’s getting a new ballpark will be of great benefit for the A’s, who could theoretically make upgrades to the park they play in if one of those two options were to happen. Given the history of this ownership group dragging its feet on the stadium situation, it’s unlikely that Thursday’s venture will provide good news, but there’s a first time for everything.