Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao says there was no indication the Oakland A's were closing in on a land deal in Las Vegas, then she got a call at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
When asked at a Thursday morning news conference if the city could have done anything differently in its negotiations with the A's, Thao placed the breakdown squarely on the team.
"It's obviously a very big milestone for us," Kaval said."We spent almost two years working in Las Vegas to try to determine a location that works for a long-term home. To identify a site and have a purchase agreement is a big step.""Welcoming the A's to Las Vegas would be great news for Southern Nevada as well as our entire state," he said in a statement.
"But unfortunately, it has become clear that we are not able to reach acceptable terms, and that the A's have not been engaged as good partners in these efforts," Thao added."At every opportunity, the A's have made increasing demands on Oakland, and at every opportunity we have risen to the challenge and overcome the hurdles placed before us. Instead of working with us, they have announced a land deal in another city.
The Athletics had been looking for a new home for years to replace the outdated and run-down Oakland Coliseum, where the team has played since arriving from Kansas City for the 1968 season. They had sought to build a stadium in Fremont and San Jose before shifting their attention to the Oakland waterfront.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said in December the A's would not have to pay a relocation fee if the team moved to Las Vegas.After the announcement by the Athletics Wednesday, Thao issued a statement saying she was disappointed the A's didn't negotiate with the city as a"true partner," and said Oakland would continue to look at redeveloping the Howard Terminal ballpark site.
The A's lease at the Coliseum expires after the 2024 season. The A's has struggled to draw fans to the Coliseum in recent years as owner John Fisher has slashed payroll and many of the team's most recognizable stars have been traded away.
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