The A’s played their last-ever game in Oakland on Thursday. Oakland Coliseum was packed: 46,889 creating an atmosphere both celebratory and (mostly) funereal. It was sad.
But the A’s will finish dead last in MLB attendance. Under a million. They also finished last in 2023 and ‘22. Second-last in 2021.
It’s not just about the last day. It’s about all the other days, too.
Oakland had previously lost the NFL’s Raiders, the NBA’s Warriors and the NHL’s Seals. When teams keep leaving the same city, it’s got a lot to do with the city.
If Oakland wanted to keep the A’s, Oakland should have built them a new stadium.
Some are commending Oakland for refusing to give a billionaire a free stadium. The billionaire should pay for his own stadium, they say.
In a vacuum, that’s true.
But you’re not choosing whether or not to spend tax dollars to build a stadium for a billionaire.
You’re choosing whether or not to keep the team.
That stinks, but that’s reality.
The baseball media is crucifying MLB for letting the A’s move.
But the A’s have moved twice before. From Philadelphia to Kansas City to Oakland. They’re a wandering franchise.
Would MLB rather have the A’s in dilapidated Oakland, playing in a crumbling stadium, or in a glitzy market like Las Vegas, based in a brand-new state-of-the-art ballpark?
The A’s were the baseball equivalent of a homeless encampment minus the blue tents.
This is sad. I feel for Oakland’s baseball fans. Especially the ones who showed up for games besides Thursday’s. This could have happened to the Penguins.
The situation was handled in less than honest fashion. That’s the case with every franchise move.
But it’s what’s best for business.
Which makes it right. That’s the world we live in.
