The groups are addressing different facets of luring the Oakland A’s to San Jose, but none are tasked with managing the 800-pound gorilla of territorial rights — or the lack of them.
San Jose’s efforts to land the Oakland A’s kicked into gear last night as the city council launched initiatives to win neighborhood and Giants support for a downtown ballpark site.
The city has long pegged a 14-acre site near the Diridon train station as a perfect place for a ballpark. The issue for the city: winning the support of neigbors who would be affected by the presence of a ballpark near their homes. And while there’s been no formal opposition to a ballpark yet, neighbors are clearly wondering what the game plan for parking will be. Last night the city council discussed the creation of a task force to look atthe issue.
Also discussed: the results of a poll of local businesses. The poll showed 70 percent would both financially support the San Francisco Giants and the "San Jose A’s." The Giants have opposed the move of the A’s to San Jose, arguing the city is within the team’s territorial rights. MLB has set up a task force to address the future of the A’s in Oakland, and addressing those territorial rights are part of their mandate. A financial settlement would need to be negotiated, but it’s been done: Peter Angelos was persuaded to allow the Montreal Expos into Washington by Bud Selig.
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