Trouble is brewing for the Oakland A’s. If the team relocates, where could they land?
There appears to be trouble in paradise for the Oakland A’s.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported today that the team is considering relocation once again. The news comes amidst controversy involving a new stadium that the A’s have proposed. If the city of Oakland rejects the proposal, a move appears likely.
Threatening relocation for leverage to build a new stadium is nothing new. The Tampa Bay Rays are involved in a similar dispute with the city of Tampa.
The current state of the A’s stadium, currently known as Ring Central Stadium, has been a debate for years. The A’s shared a stadium with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, who moved to Las Vegas in a move that was due to that same stadium.
Issues with the stadium have ranged from your typical outdated infrastructure to a sewage flood taking over the stadium to dead mice in the vending machine.
MLB has not seen a team relocate since 2004/05 when the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, similarly due to stadium issues.
As for the A’s, they’re no stranger to moving. Although a Bay Area staple, Oakland is actually the A’s third home. The club originated in Philadelphia from 1901-1954 and then moved to Kansas City from 1955-1967.
If relocation proves to be a legitimate option, the Oakland A’s ownership will have no shortage of options.