MLB Stadium Saga: Oakland/Tampa Bay/Southside

[dfwabel]

23 hours ago, Jake3.roo said:

I'd most want to see the Athletics move to somewhere like Portland or Austin/San Antonio. Las Vegas proved that sure, they can support a hockey team for two years. But to support NHL, NFL, and now MLB that quick? It seems like one of those 3 teams would relocate again pretty soon due to expenses and lack of support. Also who's to say that the Athletics won't run into similar stadium issues if they choose to share a stadium with the Raiders (again).

 

I might be out of the loop, but what's wrong with Oakland? The Warriors just moved out (sure, to San Fransisco), and the Raiders now, is it just a terrible city to have a franchise in?

 

23 hours ago, Bucfan56 said:

 

The city is flat broke. Basically the entire maritime shipping economy that supported the city back in it's heyday has fled across the bay for various different reasons. Bay Area real estate has ballooned to the point where they just can't keep up any longer. Basic services such as fire and police are an underfunded mess, which is why crime is downright horrendous in that area (Worst in the country, in most years). Oakland is fighting like hell to avoid getting sucked up by the rich, tech funded gentrification that has invaded the rest of the Bay Area and they're failing miserably at it and paying the price. 

 

There's more to it than that, of course, and someone like @dfwabel could probably elaborate on it better than I can, but that's basically it, in simplest terms. 

Unlike other metro areas, Oakland and its growth in the tech sector is not the problem, however like many municipalities of all sizes, Oakland's budget deficit of $43M over their two year budget, is an Expense problem. High worker pension and increasing health costs is what is damaging them municipally.

 

East Bay not only has had population growth in the last two decades, but also a large demographic shift, but less than 10% of all new housing is classified as "Affordable".

 

The Port of Oakland agreed to a Term Sheet with The Athletics this past May and it gives the team four years to their act together, but getting state approval for all the EIR (Environmental Impact Reports), is more of a holdup for the team than anything from the city and/or Alameda County.

[The_Admiral]

I think all that speaks to why I've always had such a soft spot for Oakland teams: it's basically a hard-done-by Midwestern city but on the Pacific Ocean. You could be writing similar stuff about Chicago or Detroit.

[TrueYankee26]

9 minutes ago, the admiral said:

I think all that speaks to why I've always had such a soft spot for Oakland teams: it's basically a hard-done-by Midwestern city but on the Pacific Ocean. You could be writing similar stuff about Chicago or Detroit.

It also reminds me of Jersey City, a decent sized, historically working class city overshadowed by its brother across the river/bay (NYC, SF), and their downtowns are rapidly gentrifying because of said proximity to main city.

[The_Admiral]

Wasn't Jersey City's gentrification a direct result of 9/11? I believe a lot of WTC tenants wound up moving over the river.

[TrueYankee26]

24 minutes ago, the admiral said:

Wasn't Jersey City's gentrification a direct result of 9/11? I believe a lot of WTC tenants wound up moving over the river.

From what I read, the roots were planted in the 80s, but yes starting in the 2000s it really took off because of the WTC tenants moving across the Hudson. And of course location location location.

[sky1324]

While the A's moving wouldn't be ideal, my money's on Portland if it does happen. I think the A's identity fits really well there, and it provides Seattle another PNW AL team so they don't have such a bad schedule (though two Texas teams is what really does the damage). I think Vegas would be incredibly short-sighted (as I believe the Raiders moving there is) and would harm the A's and MLB in the long run. 

[FiddySicks]

Well one thing is for sure. I’d be more willing to accept an A’s move to Portland than I would :censored:ing Vegas again. 

 

 

Leaving the Bay Area for goddamn Vegas just in general is nuts. It’s such a massive downgrade in so many ways. Portland is at least a cool city. 

[DustDevil61]

I don’t ever see it coming any closer to reality than this (especially with Portland and Las Vegas our there), but a few MLB fans in Utah have started the hashtag #MLBtoSLC and one local graphic designer made a quick mock-up of what the “Salt Lake Athletics” would look like:

 

And for the fun of it, he also made a mock-up of the “Salt Lake A’zz.” His thoughts—and those who responded to him—are exactly as you would think:

 

Again, I don’t ever see it happening, but fun to think about nonetheless.

[Discrim]

On 10/9/2019 at 2:02 PM, dont care said:

Sacramento wouldn’t create an anti A’s sentiment like moving the chargers to LA?

Oakland's basically the West Coast version of St. Paul, so their blood feud's with San Francisco.  A pity the Giants won't give up San Jose, but Sacramento would likely be much better received than Vegas at this point.

[AnPheitseog]

11 hours ago, DustDevil61 said:

I don’t ever see it coming any closer to reality than this (especially with Portland and Las Vegas our there), but a few MLB fans in Utah have started the hashtag #MLBtoSLC and one local graphic designer made a quick mock-up of what the “Salt Lake Athletics” would look like:

 

And for the fun of it, he also made a mock-up of the “Salt Lake A’zz.” His thoughts—and those who responded to him—are exactly as you would think:

 

Again, I don’t ever see it happening, but fun to think about nonetheless.

As much as I both hate minor league clones and love preserving the Salt Lake City Bees?

 

I'd love to see this, even as a minor league As takeover.

[Maroon]

14 hours ago, QueenCitySwarm said:

While the A's moving wouldn't be ideal, my money's on Portland if it does happen. I think the A's identity fits really well there, and it provides Seattle another PNW AL team so they don't have such a bad schedule (though two Texas teams is what really does the damage). I think Vegas would be incredibly short-sighted (as I believe the Raiders moving there is) and would harm the A's and MLB in the long run. 

 

Agreed. Again, while it'd be better for the A's to just stay put, Portland would already work well with the Green/Yellow scheme I think, and the AL West is where a Portland team would belong anyhow. IF the A's were ever to relocate, Portland really should be the choice.

[Camden Crazy]

On 10/10/2019 at 10:36 PM, Bucfan56 said:

Well one thing is for sure. I’d be more willing to accept an A’s move to Portland than I would :censored:ing Vegas again. 

 

 

Leaving the Bay Area for goddamn Vegas just in general is nuts. It’s such a massive downgrade in so many ways. Portland is at least a cool city. 

Just because you personally believe it’s not a cool city doesn’t make it objective fact.

[FiddySicks]

11 minutes ago, Camden Crazy said:

Just because you personally believe it’s not a cool city doesn’t make it objective fact.

 

1). It isn't a cool city. 

2). It is an objective fact.

3). Those are both beside the point anyway because that's not even the issue. The SF Bay Area is just objectively a better area for, well, just about everything. 

4). Vegas is running out of natural resources, such as clean drinking water, and growing at alarmingly unsustainable levels. Within 50 years, Vegas will basically be the setting for Mad Max: Fury Road. Raiders will still probably be there, though. 

[Red Comet]

12 minutes ago, Bucfan56 said:

 

1). It isn't a cool city. 

2). It is an objective fact.

3). Those are both beside the point anyway because that's not even the issue. The SF Bay Area is just objectively a better area for, well, just about everything. 

4). Vegas is running out of natural resources, such as clean drinking water, and growing at alarmingly unsustainable levels. Within 50 years, Vegas will basically be the setting for Mad Max: Fury Road. Raiders will still probably be there, though. 

 

Except for cost of living. Sorry, I like the idea of living in my own place and not living in a pod for the same price I'm renting my apartment in downtown Kansas City for plus parking.

 

Seriously, there is no way that can be safe. Especially in such an earthquake-prone area.

Edited October 14, 2019 by Red Comet

[FiddySicks]

I'd rather live in a trash can in the Bay Area than a mansion in America's Biggest Mistake of a City ©

[Red Comet]

4 minutes ago, Bucfan56 said:

I'd rather live in a trash can in the Bay Area than a mansion in America's Biggest Mistake of a City ©

 

Whatever floats your boat, Oscar.

 

Still, respect for sticking to your guns.

Edited October 14, 2019 by Red Comet

[SFGiants58]

If I was a Mariners fan, I’d want the A’s to move to Portland. That would really help their awful travel schedule. 

[FiddySicks]

47 minutes ago, SFGiants58 said:

If I was a Mariners fan, I’d want the A’s to move to Portland. That would really help their awful travel schedule. 

 

I could be wrong, but I've always been under the impression that the Mariners would like to have Portland as their "territory", if you will. It's a slight bit of a stretch to defend, considering the cities are nearly 200 miles apart, but that entire area is rather isolated from the rest of the country. I don't think the Mariners would embrace another team in that area as much as they would consider them infringing on their market. 

 

I'm not sure how much the Mariners could do to prevent a team from moving to Portland (As the claims of Portland being within their market seem dubious, at best), but I don't think they would be as happy as you assume. 

[SFGiants58]

I’ve seen how ridiculous the Mariners’ travel schedule is compared to the rest of MLB, which prompted me to make that observation.
 

Besides, building a Seattle-Portland rivalry will ultimately make the Mariners more money in the long run, so their potential objections just come across as short-sighted (a phrase one could use for an organization that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2001). 

[Gary]

If Oakland ever moves to Portland. Perhaps either add red to the Green and gold or just replace the gold to red. Probably be one of the more unique colors out there