The Oakland Athletics are “exploring” locations for a new home, the Major League Baseball team announced on Tuesday.
At issue is whether the California city will approve a proposed waterfront ballpark and mixed-use development, which is expected to cost $12 billion, and the deteriorating state of the team’s current venue despite a 10-year lease agreement not ending until 2024.
“Today, Major League Baseball instructed the A’s to begin to explore other markets while we continue to pursue the Oakland waterfront ballpark project,” team President Dave Kaval said, adding that the proposed project would “create jobs, housing, open parks, and countless community benefits for Oakland residents, and it will set the stage for more World Series titles for our fans. After four years of work, MLB is concerned with the rate of progress with local officials and other stakeholders on our new ballpark efforts.”
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MLB said in a statement that the team needed a new stadium to “remain competitive” and that its current location, the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California, was not a “viable option.”
Built in 1966, the coliseum has become infamous for its poor conditions, particularly with sewage sometimes flooding the dugouts. The National Football League’s Raiders used to be housed in the coliseum as well, but the team moved to Las Vegas in 2020.
Plans for the new park were unveiled in 2018, and the proposal included repurposing the coliseum to create affordable housing around it and a community center. The plans for the new ballpark, named Howard Terminal Stadium and originally planned for a 2023 opening, have undergone multiple redesigns over the years.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to the office of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf for comment on the announcement but did not immediately hear back.
“While we remain committed to succeeding in Oakland and will continue to work toward our waterfront ballpark, we will also follow MLB’s direction and immediately begin the process of exploring a new home of the A’s,” Kaval added.
