New A's Stadium?

[leopard88]

Ballpark Digest is quoting the San Jose Mercury News in reporting that the A's are "in the final stages of negotiating to build a new ballpark in Fremont on land leased by Cisco Systems Inc." It is not clear from the article, but it looks as if the stadium would be privately financed in conjunction with a "ballpark village" development. Does anybody know if there is a realistic shot of this coming about?

Ballpark Digest

[Shmee]

If the site they're talking about is to be the home of a stadium like the one the A's have published plans for before, it'll be the nicest park in the majors.

Proposed A's Ballpark

[leopard88]

I saw that rendering too. I like it in general, but I'm not sold on the building being incorporated into the outfield wall.

The site where I saw that model said it would be built adjacent to McAfee Coliseum. That is a different site than the one identified in the article, but the design could probably translate since the stadium and outfield building are all planned as new construction (or so it appears).

[LMU]

Yes, the San Jose Mercury News has been reporting quite a bit on the new park being built in Fremont. This works out in the A's favor, since it allows them to capitalize on the South Bay, the most populous portion of the Bay Area, without infringing on the Giants' territorial rights. And, part of the deal would have the A's rename themselves as the "San Jose A's."

[brinkeguthrie]

totally serious. the news is full of it here. what a horrible drive, tho. no BART access. If they play in Fremont----no way do I make that drive EVER during the week..and only MAYBE on weekends.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&sadd...addr=fremont+ca

BART goes right up to the Coliseum door:

http://www.bart.gov/stations/map/systemMap.asp

I am ALL for a new stadium...but it's gotta have easy access. Bay Area traffic is the pits.

[harperdc]

I love the ideas of incorporating the ballparks into the local area with buildings - makes them feel like a part of the neighborhood...and that A's possibility is a particularly cool and interesting way of doing it. I love that Portland has Civic Stadium (nee PGE Park) with the top seats at street level - and there are many other sites that have incorporated their park into the surrounding area.

If this finally gets the A's out of the graveyard that is their current stadium, I'm all for it. Such a great franchise (and a great competitor in the AL West for the Mariners ) deserves it.

[leopard88]

I love the ideas of incorporating the ballparks into the local area with buildings - makes them feel like a part of the neighborhood...and that A's possibility is a particularly cool and interesting way of doing it. I love that Portland has Civic Stadium (nee PGE Park) with the top seats at street level - and there are many other sites that have incorporated their park into the surrounding area.

I agree wholeheartedly, except I don't like it when it is contrived like it is here and at Ameriquest Field (f/k/a The Ballpark at Arlington). Incorporating the surrounding area into the park (and vice versa) is great, but I dislike the idea of creating new buildings to incorporate into the stadium, as is done in this plan. It just seems as if they are trying too hard.

It reminds me of what the Astros did in putting old school quirks like the centerfield hill in Enron/Minute Maid. The old stadiums with hills had them because they had to. In Houston, it is there just become someone thought it would be a neat idea.

[harperdc]

It reminds me of what the Astros did in putting old school quirks like the centerfield hill in Enron/Minute Maid. The old stadiums with hills had them because they had to. In Houston, it is there just become someone thought it would be a neat idea.

the hill *is* grade-A stupid, as would the effort of raising a brand-new neighborhood up around a stadium. but while I don't have an intimate knowledge of the south Bay, I'm just assuming it doesn't have much space to go around

[tp49]

I thought the poropsed site was closer to 880 near where Mission Boulevard comes in. I'm guessing the link with the map shows the endpoint at Lake Elizabeth because the Civic Center is there. If they want to put the stadium there it would be terrible. I'm sure, though that there would be alterations made to transit routes to get people who want to use transit from Fremont BART to the site, or there could be a shuttle. The transit issue would then be cost as BART to Fremont from anywhere else in the system is expensive.

[NJTank]

I think its time teh A's get a new stadium, and even though the Giants have "territorial rights" in San Jose thats where the A's should move there San Jose is bigger and better then Oakland. I can understand the Giants objection if another team moves there, but they share teh Bay with the A's any way.

[bterreson]

Yes, the San Jose Mercury News has been reporting quite a bit on the new park being built in Fremont. This works out in the A's favor, since it allows them to capitalize on the South Bay, the most populous portion of the Bay Area, without infringing on the Giants' territorial rights. And, part of the deal would have the A's rename themselves as the "San Jose A's."

is it definite that they will have to be the "San Jose A's"?

[logodawg]

It reminds me of what the Astros did in putting old school quirks like the centerfield hill in Enron/Minute Maid.  The old stadiums with hills had them because they had to.  In Houston, it is there just become someone thought it would be a neat idea.

the hill *is* grade-A stupid, as would the effort of raising a brand-new neighborhood up around a stadium. but while I don't have an intimate knowledge of the south Bay, I'm just assuming it doesn't have much space to go around

The story I heard about the hill was the GM at the time drew it in as a joke, figuring that someone would take it out at some point, but no one ever did. I do believe I heard that during an ESPN telecast, so there's probably some truth behind it.

[LMU]

Yes, the San Jose Mercury News has been reporting quite a bit on the new park being built in Fremont.  This works out in the A's favor, since it allows them to capitalize on the South Bay, the most populous portion of the Bay Area, without infringing on the Giants' territorial rights.  And, part of the deal would have the A's rename themselves as the "San Jose A's."

is it definite that they will have to be the "San Jose A's"?

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/14079100.htm

As we all know, the Giants possess the territorial rights to Santa Clara County, which ostensibly prevents the A's from moving to San Jose or Santa Clara or anywhere else within the borders of the Bay Area's most heavily populated county.

No problem. Wolff has supposedly come up with a novel plan.

He will move his franchise to Fremont, just north of the Santa Clara County line.

But the team will be known as the San Jose A's.

And, the following article discusses Fremont city leaders claiming to be near a deal:

A's close in on stadium, officials say

FREMONT: City leaders say they are lead candidate for new ballpark

The Oakland A's are in the final stages of negotiating to build a new ballpark in Fremont on land leased by Cisco Systems Inc., a city official said.

The team's co-owner Lew Wolff wants to build a ballpark village including thousands of homes and a retail center on a 143-acre parcel of land, Fremont City Manager Fred Diaz said. Diaz, along with Fremont City Council members and Daren Fields, the city's economic development director, met April 3 with Wolff to discuss the possible deal.

"I think we are the lead candidate for the new home of the A's," Diaz said. "If there's a deal to make for both the A's and the city of Fremont, then we'll find it and make that happen."

Abby Smith, a spokeswoman for Cisco Systems Inc., confirmed the company currently leases the undeveloped parcel and has an option to buy. She added the company was not actively marketing the property but is willing to listen to unsolicited offers. She would not discuss whether Cisco is in negotiations with Wolff.

Wolff said last month that the decision to broaden the search for a new stadium site was necessary because Oakland didn't have the land available to build a mixed-used development that would include a stadium, housing and retail. Also, any deal in Oakland likely would have to include public money, something county and city officials have not supported.

"I don't think there is the political will to do that here," said Oakland Councilman Larry Reid, also a member of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority. "The A's probably will not remain in Oakland. They will probably end up in Fremont."

The move would allow the A's to not only tap its East Bay fan base, but also get closer to businesses and fans in Silicon Valley without infringing on the San Francisco Giants' South Bay territorial rights.

However, the move could present its own set of problems -- with the main one being transportation. The site for the proposed ballpark is about five miles away from the Fremont BART stop, a direct contrast to the A's current home, which features nearby BART and Capitol Corridor stops.

Alameda County Supervisor Gail Steele, who also serves as board chair for the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, said she had hoped to keep the A's in Oakland but is happy that the team likely will stay in the county.

"My first choice had been to keep them in Oakland, but they have a different vision that wouldn't use any taxpayers' money," Steele said. "They must be getting closer to getting this to work, too. ... This may not be the solution everybody wanted, but it may be OK."

Asked if she held out any hope for the A's remaining in Oakland, Steele said, "I'm beginning to hold out less."

The Coliseum board is expected to agree on Friday to begin discussions with the A's about extending their current lease at the Coliseum, something the team would need to give it time to build a new stadium, Steele said.

An A's spokesman said the organization had no comment on the possible Fremont deal.

[FiddySicks]

This story is really shaky if you ask me. Yes there are reports that the A's may move top fremont, but i just heard a report this morning on KTVU that theyre trying to work out a deal where the A's would play it the Cloesium for at least another six years.

[LMU]

This story is really shaky if you ask me. Yes there are reports that the A's may move top fremont, but i just heard a report this morning on KTVU that theyre trying to work out a deal where the A's would play it the Cloesium for at least another six years.

Yes, but that time will be needed if they're going to build a stadium and obtain the necessary approvals and possible extensions of mass transit lines.

[FiddySicks]

This story is really shaky if you ask me. Yes there are reports that the A's may move top fremont, but i just heard a report this morning on KTVU that theyre trying to work out a deal where the A's would play it the Cloesium for at least another six years.

Yes, but that time will be needed if they're going to build a stadium and obtain the necessary approvals and possible extensions of mass transit lines.

It makes so little sense to me. Why dont they just move the team to Sacramento? Theyd draw huge crowds and the park costs would literally be about $100 Million less than building a new stadium. Expand the park in Sac, Move the Rivercats to the Sac State field, and wala. Soak up all the profits.

[tp49]

This story is really shaky if you ask me. Yes there are reports that the A's may move top fremont, but i just heard a report this morning on KTVU that theyre trying to work out a deal where the A's would play it the Cloesium for at least another six years.

Yes, but that time will be needed if they're going to build a stadium and obtain the necessary approvals and possible extensions of mass transit lines.

The only extension of transit lines to a Fremont park would be bus lines or possibly light rail. BART would not be extended to serve the site unless they redrew the Fremont to San Jose extension.

[tp49]

This story is really shaky if you ask me. Yes there are reports that the A's may move top fremont, but i just heard a report this morning on KTVU that theyre trying to work out a deal where the A's would play it the Cloesium for at least another six years.

Yes, but that time will be needed if they're going to build a stadium and obtain the necessary approvals and possible extensions of mass transit lines.

It makes so little sense to me. Why dont they just move the team to Sacramento? Theyd draw huge crowds and the park costs would literally be about $100 Million less than building a new stadium. Expand the park in Sac, Move the Rivercats to the Sac State field, and wala. Soak up all the profits.

I for one would love to see the A's in Sacramento. However, with all the talk of a potential Kings move, and the oppositon to a new arena for them, I don't think there would be the support for either a new stadium or an expansion of Raley Field unless the team ownership foots the entire cost. Also, I don't believe there is enough land at the Raley Field site for an expansion as least as far as putting any type of seating in the outfield without having to move the approach to the Tower Bridge.

While it would be great to have MLB here, now isn't the time as the market just isn't large enough yet.

[FiddySicks]

Also, I don't believe there is enough land at the Raley Field site for an expansion as least as far as putting any type of seating in the outfield without having to move the approach to the Tower Bridge.

While it would be great to have MLB here, now isn't the time as the market just isn't large enough yet.

Accually, the park was built with with the option of expanding it to a full size MLB style park. It was originally supposed to be closer to the river but they decided to move it abck so there would be room for just that. If you go to the park theres a skematic just outside of the stadium of how an expansion would look and how it would fit. All that trainyard could be torn down to put in more parking. And as far as not being a large enough market, i disagree. Sacramento is basically a hub city. Any time you travel through the state you usually catch the connection through Sacramento, and Sacto is also a very easily accessable city form all over central california and even the bay arera, which has an enormous amount of people to draw from.

But im a HUGE advocate to a Sacramento MLB team so of course i think it'll work out great.

[tp49]

Also, I don't believe there is enough land at the Raley Field site for an expansion as least as far as putting any type of seating in the outfield without having to move the approach to the Tower Bridge.

While it would be great to have MLB here, now isn't the time as the market just isn't large enough yet.

Accually, the park was built with with the option of expanding it to a full size MLB style park. It was originally supposed to be closer to the river but they decided to move it abck so there would be room for just that. If you go to the park theres a skematic just outside of the stadium of how an expansion would look and how it would fit. All that trainyard could be torn down to put in more parking. And as far as not being a large enough market, i disagree. Sacramento is basically a hub city. Any time you travel through the state you usually catch the connection through Sacramento, and Sacto is also a very easily accessable city form all over central california and even the bay arera, which has an enormous amount of people to draw from.

But im a HUGE advocate to a Sacramento MLB team so of course i think it'll work out great.

I'll have to look for that tonight at the opener. I'm not saying I don't want the A's to come here, I'd love to be able to walk to see a major league team as Raley Field isn't far from my place. With all of the questions surrounding the Kings, I question whether the market could support the A's (by support meaning more political support then anything else).

My thought on expansion more concerned the area beyond left field, but again I'll take a look at the drawing tonight to see how an expansion would look.