Top Menu

Local business leaders moving forward with Oakland port ballpark plan

Proposed Oakland ballpark

A group of local businessmen are working with the Port of Oakland on a set of surveys and land appraisals to determine the feasibility of an Oakland Athletics ballpark on a waterfront site.

Two sites have emerged as the possible future home of the A’s: a redeveloped Coliseum complex that could possibly house a new Oakland Raiders stadium as well, and the downtown Port of Oakland terminal site. A’s ownership has spoken out against both sites, saying they’re not practical; Lew Wolff has been especially harsh in his condemnation of the Howard Terminal waterfront site, saying environmental problems and a lack of BART access makes it unsuitable for the ballpark. That’s not stopping a team of local businessmen (Clorox CEO Don Knauss, developer Mike Ghielmetti and former Dreyer’s CEO T. Gary Rogers) from putting up their own money for site surveys and environmental studies. From the Oakland Tribune:

They sought the one-year agreement and hope to eventually secure an additional two- to three-year option period during which they would work to obtain the necessary permits and perform an estimated $1 million environmental review on the site. For now, the businessmen, operating as Oakland Waterfront Ballpark, LLC, are proposing to deposit $100,000 with the port, half of which could be used for studies such as land appraisals and site surveys….

Oakland business leaders prefer the port site to the A’s current home in East Oakland because a waterfront stadium could spur additional development around Jack London Square and the city center.

The port, whose shipping business is operating well below capacity, is considering new uses for the terminal, which was vacated recently. A ballpark or any nonmaritime-related development still would need approval from state regulators.

Wolff has resisted efforts to commit him to an Oakland ballpark plan. With San Jose off the docket as a potential landing pad, he’s suggest a temporary ballpark should efforts to land a 10-year lease extension at O.Co Coliseum not be forthcoming.

RELATED STORIES: Could A’s end up in Candlestick? Here are some unlikely scenarios; Giants’ Baer: We’d share AT&T Park with Athletics; Appeals court puts San Jose antitrust lawsuit on fast track; Judge: San Jose has no right to the A’s; Selig: We’ll solve Oakland ballpark issue before I leave office; Selig: Oakland Coliseum a pit, but it’s our pit; Legal settlement could pave way for new Oakland ballpark; San Jose suit against MLB a weak one, saye experts; San Jose files suit against MLB in quest for A’s; Selig to San Jose Mayor: Sorry, no time to meet; Progress on new A’s ballpark? Not likely; Athletics propose five-year lease for Coliseum; What drives Lew Wolff?; Wolff: No more delays on A’s ballpark decisionSan Jose ballpark land deal under formal reviewCould Giants-A’s battle be settled in court?Waterfront site emerging as new A’s homeMLB committee meets with Oakland, San Jose officials about future of A’s; Developer: I can build new A’s ballpark with private financingSan Jose: A’s ballpark land safe — for nowWolff meets with Knauss, has clear message: A’s not for saleGiants: Nothing would tempt us to give up Silicon Valley territorySelig: A’s can leave Oakland — just not for San JoseCal to San Jose: Slow down on new ballparkA’s expected to push for ballpark decision at owner’s meetingsToday’s A’s/Giants update: nothing newWolff: A’s aren’t for saleSuitors emerge for Oakland Athletics

—-

Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.

Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.

Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!

Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!

, , , , , , , , ,