City of Oakland discusses expansion team with MLB in exchange for Coliseum lease extension
(KRON) — Oakland officials have had discussions with Major League Baseball about the possibility of the city getting an MLB expansion team if it allows the A’s to play in Oakland for three more years, the city confirmed to KRON4 on Friday.
Currently, the A’s new ballpark in Las Vegas is expected to open in 2028 at the earliest, but their lease at the Oakland Coliseum is set to expire after the 2024 season. Team officials have toured minor-league ballparks in other cities as they look for a home for the A’s from 2025-27.
The Athletic reported Friday that Sacramento is the front-runner to host the team for those in-between years. The A’s would lose $70 million in television money if they play in a market outside of the Bay Area before moving to Las Vegas, which is an incentive for the team to get a deal done to stay in Oakland.
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The A’s also met with local officials on Thursday about an extension lease at the Coliseum. The meeting included A’s president Dave Kaval, Oakland city councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, City of Oakland Chief of Staff Leigh Hanson and Alameda County supervisor David Haubert, KRON4 previously reported.
“The City of Oakland had a productive conversation with the A’s and the County to discuss a lease extension at the Coliseum. We look forward to future discussions,” the city said in a statement to KRON4.
If the A’s do make the expected move to Las Vegas, the East Bay will be without an MLB team for the first time since 1967. The discussed deal with MLB would bring a new team to the area. It is unclear when such a team would have its debut season and what its home stadium would be.
“That’s a bit of a big ask and seemed impossible not that long ago, but the A’s are desperate. They could lose $70 million bucks a year if they have to play elsewhere, so they might convince MLB to guarantee Oakland that expansion team,” San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler said on KRON4 News at 2 on Friday.
Another possibility is that the A’s sell their 50-percent stake in the Coliseum to a local business group, which would then redevelop the stadium.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred commented on the A’s leaving at a press conference on Thursday, implying that A’s fans can switch their allegiance to the Giants, Yahoo! Sports reported.
“First of all, we do have a major-league team in the Bay Area,” Manfred said. “It’s not like there is not an available option. The Giants obviously still play there.”
Whatever happens, Ostler believes there will be a resolution “pretty fast” as MLB looks ahead to the 2025 season.
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