She doesn't have any pull in getting Fisher out as owner, but she's got some leverage right now because the A's are interested in playing at Oakland until 2028, when their new stadium is open. The reason is that they receive $67M from a TV contract if they stay in the Bay Area. My understanding is that the coliseum is public parternship between county and city, so she could presumably nix a deal if she wanted. Here are her stipulations if they want to stay in Oakland past 2024 . I'm sure she'd love to tell them to shove it. The only thing in the A's favor is that the city and the county also probably don't want to turn down money because that may not the best decision for their constituents. Revenge would be sweet but at the end of the day they probably need the money. In the meantime she can make acerbic statements in the press and to her constituents and it probably doesn't affect the negotiations. Fish has heard them all by now. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has said the city would be open to extending the lease, but would expect concessions, which could include: • A rent hike from this coming season’s $1.2 million. It has been speculated that Oakland would ask for a chunk of that $67 million per season the A’s would be saving by remaining in the Bay Area. • The A’s agreeing to leave their team name and colors in Oakland when they move away. • A guarantee from MLB that Oakland would receive an expansion team. “It was a really positive meeting, and we are looking forward to additional conversations with the city and county to discuss a lease extension for the interim years,” said an A’s spokesperson. https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/ostler/article/a-s-oakland-county-officials-positive-18669908.php
The full irony in all this is, the team is leaving, or threatening to leave and all of a sudden Oakland and its fans step up and have a voice. GTFO, that mayor of Oakland is a hack job.
OTOH, it would be criminal to accept $1.2M in rent so that the A’s can make $67M in broadcast revenue. As an elected official, I would tell Fisher, 50:50 split or go suck grapes. (Obviously this is why I would never run for any office.)
Well she’s saying we want a share and we want to keep the name and colors and we want a guarantee of a new franchise, etc. So do you want to play here or not?
I spent six years in Idaho Falls and can attest that distances are much less meaningful to folks in the Intermountain region. We used to drive to Jackson, WY (90 miles one way) to buy beer (it was 3.2 in Idaho) or even just for the hell of it after work and a drive to SLC (abt 215 miles) was no big deal. Folks around there are used to driving distances and the chance to see major league baseball will be a big draw, I figure.
Yes but couldn’t the A’s file a lawsuit on that issue? If the Raiders can move from Oakland to LA and back and then to Las Vegas, how can the MLB or anyone else prevent Fisher from moving the team?
MLS owners met in Miami to discuss roster rules, potential for increased investments MLS commissioner Don Garber recently restructured the makeup of multiple owner-led committees, including the sporting and competition group. Thirteen owners were in attendance in Miami. Longtime members of the committee remained, including co-chairs FC Dallas owner Clark Hunt and Vancouver Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot, managing director of Red Bull GmbH Oliver Mintzlaff, LAFC owner Larry Berg, Seattle Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer, Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson, Sporting Kansas City owner Mike Illig and City Football Group CEO Ferran Soriano. New additions are Inter Miami owner Jorge Más, Austin FC owner Anthony Precourt, Philadelphia Union owner Jay Sugarman, Real Salt Lake’s Scott Krase and CF Montreal owner Joey Saputo.
MLB has an antitrust exemption. As I recall, the City of San Jose filed a lawsuit to allow the A's to move to San Jose, which MLB fought and won. (As an aside, I remember talking with Mayor Sam Liccardo about this beforehand, and told him I thought the idea of a lawsuit was a loser because of the antitrust exemption, but he was gung ho and said the city had a great case.)
Yes but then if this is the case, MLB is in fact allowing Fisher to move the A's to Vegas so I don't think anyone can block the move whether they want to or not.
MLB is not merely allowing the move to Vegas, they have been cheerleading it, and may have even instigated it. The A's are moving to Vegas, rather than to San Jose or staying in Oakland, because that is what MLB wants. Which is why MLB is the culprit.
It's sad because A's fans love the team so much. If they ever got an owner with the pockets and ambition to bankroll a good stadium and a strong team, they'd be a great MLB market. Reminds me too much of the Warriors under Chris Cohan.
Fisher isn’t exactly an innocent bystander who was blindsided by the Vegas move either, there’s at least some culpability on the ownership side
Longest active streaks without a winning season in American sports: NBA - Wizards - 5 Seasons NHL - Detroit - 7 Seasons MLB - Angels - 8 Seasons NFL - Jets - 8 Seasons MLS - San Jose Earthquakes - 10 seasons Longest active streaks without a winning season in American sports:NBA - Wizards - 5 SeasonsNHL - Detroit - 7 SeasonsMLB - Angels - 8 SeasonsNFL - Jets - 8 SeasonsMLS - San Jose Earthquakes - 10 seasons #Quakes74— Quakes Epicenter (@QuakesEpicenter) March 11, 2024
in light of John Fisher and his hopelessly miserly ways it might be time to change our stadium song from to... seems so much more apropos.
It's a race to the bottom in San Jose! Probably a great time to find other things to do, that don't include San Jose sports. Luckily, we live in a beautiful area with lots to do.
I always took the “never” in Never Say Die” to mean, I don’t know…never? If you are proposing to change out the song then you never understood it or never believed in it.
I love the song; I think the Quakes are dishonoring it. Just like the legacy of the Quakes who came before 2008...they too are being dishonored by Fisher. *no fault of the coaches and players since 2008, I might add.
I feel like the Quakes are dishonoring it only if the players and coaches give up. I haven’t seen that, with the possible exception of Matias Almeyda, 2022. As for the *composition* of the team we’ve always been the blue collar team / the Goonies / the cast-offs, the misfits. I’d like to see us get back to comeback wins. In my mind there’s no reason we can’t do it. We just need to start doing it.
You know in the NFL or NBA, coming in last actually helps in the form of draft picks. It used to help in MLS too. Now , although you may be able to find talent , college players are hit and miss. There is no more incentive or lure to finish last.