Four Potential Relocation Sites for the Oakland A’s
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Issues with the stadium have ranged from your typical outdated infrastructure to a sewage flood taking over the stadium to dead mice in the vending machine.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.
Buffalo
Buffalo has a Major League history both in its past and future, but doesn’t have a team to show for.
The Queen City was one of the finalists for expansion in 1991, so much so that Shalen Field — then called Pilot Field — was built in anticipation for Buffalo’s first MLB team since 1915.
Instead, Major League Baseball commissioner Fay Vincent chose Colorado and Florida, now known as the Rockies and Marlins respectively.
Buffalo remains a top market for Triple-A baseball with the Bisons, but 2021 is a nice audition for the future.
With the Blue Jays moving to Buffalo last season, the Jays had a lot of good to say about their new home. But in 2021, fans will be allowed to attend. They’re currently allowing 24% capacity, but that could grow by season’s end. Solid ticket sales and continued interest in the league would go a long way to grab MLB’s attention for a long term future in Buffalo.
Another plus is the renovations the Blue Jays have made to the park on a permanent basis including re-sodding both the infield and outfield as well as moving the bullpen to behind the outfield wall.
Buffalo has a rabid fan base — especially Bills fans, aka Bills Mafia — but support for the NHL’s Sabres and NLL’s Bandits is also there. It might not be the biggest market, but there are fans and money to be made in Buffalo.
Montreal
Montreal deserves a baseball team, plain and simple.
Fans in Montreal lost interest in the Expos after a series of incredible mismanagement, including some of the worst trades in MLB history. The Expos traded guys like Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore, and Cliff Lee (in the same deal!) for Bartolo Colon. They then traded Colon about six months later for next to nothing. The Expos also sent Marquis Grissom, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez packing to other teams.
Things could have been different had the 1994 lockout not happened, but that’s a whole different debate.
Fans in Montreal have clamored for the return of the Expos for years. The Blue Jays have played pre-season games there, with nearly every game sold out. You’d see signs everywhere with fans begging for their return.
There have been rumors of the Tampa Bay Rays moving to Quebec, but nothing has come of it. Will it-won’t it rumors of a new stadium have persisted with that move for a while as well. A report says just a few months ago said that Quebec is “open” to funding part of a new baseball stadium.
If the A’s relocated to Montreal, it wouldn’t be their first cross country move, but it could prove to be the best. The hunger for baseball is there, and in a city with over 1.8 million people (and a Provence of over 8.6 million) Montreal would fit the “big market” that MLB wants to sell itself to.
Given the history, Montreal would be an instant money maker. Plus, given the geographical difference, the team would change divisions, possibly to the NL East, creating a very interesting natural rival with the former hometown club Washington Nationals.
Las Vegas
Wouldn’t it be ironic if even for just a year, the A’s and Raiders share a stadium again?
Vegas is becoming more and more of a sports town. The success of the NHL’s Golden Knights speaks about what kind of potential Las Vegas holds. If for nothing else, it would be a great tourist attraction which although this might not be exactly what MLB wants, the money would still be the same.
Also ironic, the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators are the top minor league club in the A’s organization. The Aviators led all of Minor League Baseball in attendance in 2019.
Much like Buffalo’s ballpark, the Aviators stadium — appropriately named Las Vegas Ballpark — was built with the idea of eventually housing an MLB team. The big difference is the Vegas stadium was opened in 2019, meaning only one year of use.
Although the team may be called Las Vegas, it’s possible the team actually ends up in Henderson, 17 miles outside of Vegas. Henderson is already home to the aforementioned Golden Knights, so the desire is there.
Oakland to Las Vegas is a relatively short move considering other cities on the list. It also prevents major (or any) division realignment. It makes a lot of sense on all accounts.
Nashville
Nashville is one of, if not THE, fastest growing cities in the country. The entire state of Tennessee doesn’t have a major league team. Nashville is already a great sports town, just look at the Predators and Titans.
It’s almost too good.
Nashville is rumored to be under consideration for an expansion anyways, potentially under the Nashville Stars name. That name is an homage to the Negro League team from the 1930s-1950s. There’s everything from a Twitter to a website dedicated to this potential club. Even Darius Rucker and Justin Timberlake are involved in the investment group.
Nashville is currently the home of the Sounds, a Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and former affiliate of the A’s from 2015-2018. They currently play at First Horizon Park which was built in 2015. The ballpark might not be totally suitable for a Major League team, but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed.
MLB has said there won’t be expansion until the situation in Tampa is resolved, and now this Oakland issue opens another door. Although with that door opened, it may allow Nashville to walk right through it.
Nashville is the 23rd most populated city in the United States, with almost 220,000 more people than Oakland. Again, it’s all about the market size.
Next. Portland, Vegas best options for A's. dark
Nashville is a city with unlimited potential. It could become the Los Angeles of the South. Considering where the city is heading, a move to Nashville would be nothing but a benefit to not just the Oakland A’s franchise, but Major League Baseball as a whole.