3 Cities Where Oakland A’s Can Relocate
On Tuesday, the Oakland Athletics announced that they may be leaving Oakland, a move that could strip the city of its lone professional sports franchise.
“The future success of the A’s depends on a new ballpark,” Oakland A’s owner John Fisher said. “We will continue to pursue our waterfront ballpark project. We will also follow MLB’s direction to explore other markets.”
Should the city of Oakland deny the Athletics their coveted stadium, here are three destinations where Fisher could relocate his ball club:
1. Las Vegas
Pros: Vegas can be a premier choice for three reasons: One, the A’s may not need to build a new stadium (at least for the time being) as Las Vegas already hosts Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators, in a 10,000 person stadium. Two, the professional sports market in Vegas is quickly expanding and establishing a Major League Baseball franchise can potentially be lucrative for Fisher and the MLB. Finally, Las Vegas is a city with the capacity to host Major League teams as it boasts endless attractions, luxurious casinos and resorts.
Cons: Financing a stadium with a retractable roof to protect fans from blistering Nevada heat. Also the A’s may be forced to play in a Triple-A stadium as they await the completion of their potential new stadium.
2. Austin (Round Rock)
Pros: Austin is the fastest growing large city in the United States and the second most-populated capital city after Phoenix, Arizona. However, the capital of the Lone Star State currently houses only one major professional sports team: Austin FC (Major League Soccer). The opportunity for the MLB to grow their market within the state of Texas exists. Not to mention a move to Austin would bring the A’s closer to fellow American League West rivals, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. By the way, Dell Diamond, home of the Round Rock Express, seats 11,631 fans.
Cons: Round Rock isn’t located near downtown Austin, which means visiting teams may have to commute for roughly thirty-five minutes if they wish to stay in Austin. A new stadium will need a retractable roof to protect fans from scorching Texas sun. Finally, it’s highly improbable that the Texas Rangers will just cede their Triple-A site to a division rival without a hefty price.
3. Nashville
Pros: Back in 2019, Oakland A’s legend, David Stewart, and other investors sought to bring Major League Baseball to Music City. While their plan failed, it somehow set the groundwork for a potential expansion team into Nashville. Now, Stewart’s hometown team has a chance to make his plan come full circle. Nashville has proven itself worthy of housing professional sports franchises as it already hosts two major professional teams in the Titans (National Football League) and Predators (National Hockey League). First Horizon Park which hosts the Milwaukee Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds, is a state-of-the-art facility and can seat upwards of 10,000 fans. Aside from the facilities, Nashville offers ample tourist attractions, great food and of course, live music.
Cons: A move to Nashville could make it difficult to keep the A’s within the AL West division. Again, the A’s would be forced to play in a Triple A stadium while their new stadium is built.