[ad_1]
The Oakland Athletics’ plan to maneuver to Nevada after signing a binding settlement for land close to the Las Vegas strip has not gone over nicely with the town’s mayor, Sheng Thao, however Main League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred refuted any suggestion that the group wasn’t negotiating in good religion earlier than deciding to maneuver on.
A’s president Dave Kaval introduced final week that the group agreed to buy land in southern Nevada with plans to construct a 30,000-seat ballpark with {a partially} retractable roof price $1.5 billion.
![Oakland Coliseum](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/10/640/320/oakland-coliseum.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Basic view of a sport between the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics on August 28, 2022, at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, CA. (Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
The announcement was met with harsh criticism from Oakland mayor Sheng Thao who mentioned in a press release that the transfer occurred “mid-negotiations” and prompt that any deal to remain in Oakland was used as “leverage” for the A’s new deal in Las Vegas.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS ANNOUNCE LAS VEGAS LAND DEAL, MLB COMMISSIONER EXPRESSES ‘SUPPORT’
“The town of Oakland has for years labored to maintain the A’s rooted right here within the metropolis of Oakland,” Thao mentioned. “This announcement occurred mid-negotiations, and it reveals that they had little interest in reaching a cope with Oakland in any respect. Oakland is just not concerned with getting used as leverage with the A’s negotiations with Las Vegas.”
However throughout a gathering with The Related Press Sports activities Editors on Monday, Manfred dismissed that notion, including that the A’s labored completely with the town of Oakland from 2014 to 2021.
![Rob Manfred MLB](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/04/640/320/Rob-Manfred4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Main League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred speaks throughout a information convention, Thursday March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photograph/Bebeto Matthews, File)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
“I really feel sorry for the followers in Oakland. I actually do,” he mentioned. “However for the town of Oakland to level fingers at [owner] John Fisher, it’s not truthful.”
“Now we have proven an unbelievable dedication to the followers in Oakland by exhausting each doable alternative to attempt to get one thing finished in Oakland,” he added. “Sadly, the federal government doesn’t appear to have the desire to get it finished.”
The Oakland Coliseum has been the house of the A’s since 1968 when the crew moved to Oakland from Kansas Metropolis.
![General view of the Oakland Athletics logos](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/04/640/320/GettyImages-1005811816-copy.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Basic view of the Oakland Athletics logos within the dugout earlier than the sport in opposition to the San Francisco Giants on the Oakland Coliseum on July 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in 10 innings. (Jason O. Watson/Getty Pictures)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Manfred mentioned Monday that he believes the transfer will probably be helpful for the franchise.
“Their attendance has by no means been excellent, let’s put it that approach,” he mentioned.
“To me, it must be all constructive on the aggressive entrance,” he added. “You bought actually sensible baseball operations folks. You bought house owners that need to win, and I feel Las Vegas will current an actual revenue-enhancing alternative. So I feel you are going to have a superb product.”
Fox Information’ Joe Morgan and The Related Press contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link