Oakland A's twist the knife in their fan base
The Oakland A's were supposed to be the team that stayed.
The Golden State Warriors and Raiders left town, chasing new stadiums elsewhere. Meanwhile, the A's unveiled a Rooted in Oakland campaign in 2017, highlighting the city and their commitment to build a new ballpark in the place they called home since 1968. Talks for a new stadium had been ongoing for years by that point in time, but there was hope that something would get done.
Those hopes were dashed within a couple of years. While progress was being made on the Howard Terminal Project, the A's explored relocation. The decision was made to follow in the Raiders' footsteps and head to Las Vegas, a move that was unanimously approved by league owners. So much for being Rooted in Oakland.
As the A's may be playing their final season in Oakland, it was no surprise that their Rooted in Oakland sign on the front of the Coliseum was taken down. A's president Dave Kaval announced the replacement - a new sign honoring their time in Oakland and their historic moments.
The A's lease on the Coliseum expires after the upcoming season. However, the A's have yet to find a home until their hypothetical Las Vegas stadium is ready in 2028. John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Feb. 13 that the team was in talks with the City of Oakland to extend their lease until the new home is ready.
Those plans will only prolong the agony. A's fans have sent a message that they are no longer going to support this ownership group through their boycotts and fan-created FanFest. Meanwhile, ownership has sent message after message that they do not care about the fans.
This new sign, celebrating those great moments in Oakland, is another slap to the fan base. It is a reminder of the great times they had and what the team is taking away. And it is another way ownership is twisting the knife on their way out.
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