You’ve heard the rumors – the Oakland Athletics are destined for San Jose. But before they go – and before any final announcements are made – the city of Oakland is trying one final Hail Mary pass to keep the boys in green.
The city is expected to pony up $3 million to design a new sports complex at the site of the current Oakland Coliseum.
Matier and Ross report in the San Francisco Chronicle that Oakland has selected HKS Inc. the firm that designed Lucas Oil Stadium – site of this year’s Super Bowl XVI in Indianapolis, as the catalyst to come up with a plan – along with JRDV Architects of Oakland. Matier & Ross
The $3 million comes from redevelopment money that Oakland can keep after the elimination of redevelopment agencies. “It’s like (Tom) Brady in the last play of the Super Bowl – it’s a Hail Mary,” according to Scott Haggerty, an Alameda County Supervisor who was quoted in the article.
Oakland is desperate to keep the A’s, especially with the Warriors threatening to leave for San Francisco and rumblings of the Raiders returning to Los Angeles. The goal is to transform the landscape at the Coliseum from this:
where the upper deck is tarped off to make the small crowd look bigger, to perhaps something like this:
Barry Zito Pitches Before a Packed House at AT&T Park
at At&T Park where the Giants always have great crowds – or perhaps this:
Full House at Yankee Stadium
and of course the Yankees always have terrific attendance at Yankee Stadium, along with a very competitive team that’s always in the playoff hunt. But even some teams, like the Cleveland Indians, that are slumping bring big crowds to the ballpark.
Progressive Field, Home of the Cleveland Indians
And of course the Phillies have a great team and a terrific new stadium:
Citizens Bank Ballpark, Home of the Philadelphia Phillies
The point is to compete in the modern era, a modern ballpark is essential. Without a steady stream of ticket sales, teams won’t have the cash needed to attract big name free agents like Prince Fielder, who’s going to love Comerica Park in Detroit.
The View of Downtown Detroit from Comerica Park
Let’s hope the Oakland Athletics are successful – otherwise we’ll soon be calling them something else, probably the San Jose A’s.
