Though the Oakland A’s and the city have never been able to come to an agreement about the where and when of a new ballpark, a new committee to be appointed by Mayor Ron Dellums is seeking to change that.
Oakland Mayior Ron Dellums and City Council President Jane Brunner are forming a committee to keep the Athletics in Oakland, and they’ve sent MLB Commissioner Bud Selig a letter asking for help in the matter.
While it’s a little unusual the pair would be approaching Bud Selig on the matter instead of the Oakland ownership, it’s pretty clear the city sees the failure of the proposed Fremont ballpark as an opportunity to retain the A’s. The city and the A’s ownership had previously discussed locations for a new ballpark, but those discussions never went far.
Despite a request going to Selig instead of Oakland co-owner Lew Wolff, we can’t help but think Wolff and crew aren’t thrilled with the emergence of Oakland as a player again in the ballpark wars. It means San Jose has a serious competitor for the A’s — and baseball team owners just love a bidding war when they’re on the receiving end.
RELATED STORIES: San Jose mayor: We have better than 50-50 shot at landing the A’s; San Jose city committee wants to see poll of residents before moving forward on A’s; Could Oakland Coliseum work as baseball-only venue?; Wolff: Goal is team in "Northern California"; 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
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