MLB commissioner tells Oakland to drop lawsuit or A's could relocate

Share

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was in attendance for the A's AL Wild Card Game loss to the Rays at the Coliseum, but he also has made his presence known in Oakland in even bigger ways recently. 

The San Francisco Chronicle's Phil Matier reported Sunday that Manfred told Oakland officials they need to drop their lawsuit of the Coliseum land site to the A's or risk the team relocating to another city. 

“He kind of laid down the law,” City Councilman Larry Reid, who also sits on the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, said to the Chronicle. 

The A’s want to develop the 155-acre Coliseum site to help pay for a privately financed ballpark, which they have proposed be built at Howard Terminal near Jack London Square. One warning Manfred made to officials is that the A's could make Las Vegas their future home, just like the Raiders are. 

“The commissioner pointed out that Bay Area fans will soon be going to Las Vegas to see the Raiders and that unless things changed, Bay Area fans may be going to Las Vegas or elsewhere to see the A’s as well,” Reid said to the Chronicle. 

The A's moved their Triple-A affiliate to Las Vegas this season and saw great results. The Las Vegas Aviators led all of the minor leagues in attendance (650,934) and average attendance (9,299) in their inaugural season. 

While the $150 million Las Vegas Ballpark seats 10,000 fans, the Aviators recorded 47 sellouts in 2019 and housed a stadium record 12,111 fans on May 14. 

[RELATED: Why A's will win World Series within next three seasons]

Oakland already has lost the Warriors to San Francisco this year and will lose the Raiders to Sin City in 2020. Manfred is making it clear he doesn't want to see the same happen to the A's, but the county, the city and the A's brass all have to be on the same page. 

It feels like the three haven't come together in quite some time.

Contact Us