Let the conspiracy theories begin after Oakland A’s co-owner Lew Wolff releases a new-ballpark statement that specifically doesn’t mention Oakland or the Bay Area.
Let the conspiracy theories begin after Oakland A’s co-owner Lew Wolff releases a new-ballpark statement that specifically doesn’t mention Oakland or the Bay Area.
As you’ll recall, the Oakland A’s officially ended their pursuit of a new ballpark anywhere in Fremont after local residents rallied against a proposal for a ballpark next to the new Warm Springs BART station — a location that would have negatively impacted an existing elementary school and neighborhood.
Today the team released an official statement on the decision. It’s interesting to parse exactly what was said — and unsaid. Here’s the complete statement issued by the team:
"After much consideration, today we informed Mayor Wasserman and City Council members that the Oakland Athletics will cease efforts to relocate our franchise to the City of Fremont.
"I expressed my regrets and gratitude, especially to those people who shared our vision and spent endless hours in support of our proposal. However, it became increasingly clear that our ballpark project faced significant delays ahead and I could not, in good conscience, continue to lead our team down this path.
"My focus now is on baseball with Spring Training and the opening of the 2009 season. I am extremely excited about the team’s prospects this year.
"My goal and desire for the organization is to determine a way to keep the team in Northern California. This goal has not changed."
Northern California is a pretty big area. It includes, oh, San Jose and Santa Clara. It includes all of Oakland’s territory as well as San Francisco’s.
Now, we’re not saying there should be more read into this statement than what is there. But given it’s an official press release — vetted by several folks, we assume — the lack of specificity in the team’s future home is a telling detail. We once again point out that Wolff does a lot of business in San Jose, both as a team owner (the MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes) and as a hotelier/developer (the downtown Fairmont, among others). Just sayin’.
RELATED STORIES: A’s officially drop Fremont ballpark plans; Wolff says there’s no backup plan; A’s suspend Fremont plans; will reevaluate future home for club; A’s: No new ballpark until 2014; Wolff: A’s still committed to Fremont ballpark; A’s cancel community meetings as opposition to new ballpark plan accelerates; New A’s ballpark opposed by hundreds of protesters; Oakland admits original plans for Cisco Field are all but dead