OAKLAND — If it’s closure that athletics fans are hoping for, the Coliseum wasn’t the place to find it Tuesday night.
Their team wants to move to Las Vegas, but the work is far from complete. Their team is open to the idea of extending the lease in Oakland until the proposed stadium is built, but a morning meeting between the club and city officials brought nothing toward a resolution.
Then there’s the involvement of Sacramento, which entered the fray on some level with the idea of being a temporary home at Sutter Health Park — home of the Triple-A River Cats — until Las Vegas becomes a reality.
Sitting on a beach chair with a cold drink, wearing an A hat and a green “Sell” T-shirt, Marin’s Dave DeMartini openly wondered if he’d be back in 2024. A fellow Red Sox fan gave him a ticket, but he joined the fan boycott otherwise.
“This might be the only game I go to,” DeMartini said. “I’m a fan of everyone who puts on the A’s uniform. But these players are used. They’re being manipulated by ownership and (Commissioner Rob) Manfred gives the green light to all of this. They do everything they can to turn everyone away. I don’t know why they would want to be here next year. They are doing everything they can to discourage fans.
The parking lot on the 66th Avenue side was out of tailgaters 90 minutes before the 6:40 p.m. first pitch against the Boston Red Sox. Championship Plaza, which in recent years was a popular destination for food trucks, cornhole and live music, was closed under the direction of owner John Fisher and team president Dave Kaval.
The A’s drew 5,112 fans Tuesday night and with 38,632 through six games, they are averaging 6,439 heading into Wednesday’s getaway day against the Red Sox.
Alameda’s Nate Pitcairn has been a keen observer of the stadium saga and isn’t ruling out the A’s ending up in Oakland next year and beyond.
“Honestly, I think they’ll be there,” Pitcairn said. “You want to give Fisher the benefit of the doubt that he knows what he’s doing, but it doesn’t seem like that’s the case. There are extenuating circumstances that would prevent them from leaving Oakland.
Pitcairn referenced a TV deal that could cost the A’s $67 million, or a good portion of that if the move is made in-state to Sacramento for 2025.
George Martinez, of Oakland, skipped opening night for the first time in years and also said he was attending on a free ticket with a friend. He’s not sure whether to go see the A’s in Sacramento or Las Vegas, and is hoping A’s ownership just isn’t capable of making a deal anywhere else.
“I hope it collapses and they have to come back with their tail between their legs,” Martinez said. “That’s what I hope for every day.”
A Raiders season ticket holder for 15 years, Martinez said he hasn’t been to Las Vegas but instead goes to watch his team at other venues as a visitor.
A man who wanted to be identified as “Bill P.” drove nearly four hours from Redding with his wife and two young daughters, who were attending their first game.
“I think the city of Oakland and the A’s management blew it royally,” Bill P. said. “It seems like a lot of money was wasted between the attempts to move the stadium to Howard Terminal and other tourist sites.”
While fans are swinging in the wind, the A’s are more concerned with playing a mistake-free game and players are trying to keep their foot in the door in the majors, regardless of venue.
“It’s our job as players to be as adaptable as possible, whether it’s in-game adjustments or being where you are in the big leagues,” said the outfielder JJ Bleday. “Triple-A, Double-A, wherever you are, it’s just about trying to tune out all the noise and focus on what you’re doing that day.”
Third baseman JD Davis grew up in Elk Grove, so he’s intrigued by the Sacramento option, even though it might not include him after he signs a one-year deal.
“I grew up going to River Cats games when Eric Chavez was there,” Davis said. “I’ve seen quite a few A’s come through Sacramento. I am not against.
Yet Davis and the team itself are in his protective cocoon with the goal of taking care of business and staying in the big leagues.
“We have no say, no date, no idea of expansion or ideal location,” Davis said. “We just show up and do our job. From my experience in Sacramento, I know it’s a good city for the A’s, but facility-wise, they need some more renovations.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay has enough on his plate to worry about getting into a lot of relocation speculation.
“It’s not even a thought I allow myself to ponder, really,” Kotsay said. “I mean, we’re here this year. We play a full season and nothing changes that.
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