The Howard Terminal venture hit a bump that would derail the project when the town of Oakland’s latest version of its recommended terms met resistance from the Oakland A’s side on Friday. The A’s say the Howard Terminal project is their last effort to stay the team in Oakland, but the city’s recent draft terms of agreement set to travel to a non-binding vote on July 20 are a no-go for the team, with the most detail being the formation of an off-site tax district to assist fund the project. Stephanie Kishi, a die-hard A’s fan, was disheartened by Kaval’s comments, saying the longer term of baseball in Oakland “didn’t look too bright.”
“I want them to remain in Oakland,” Kishi said. “I’ve heard differing things from each side, the town and therefore the A’s. It doesn’t sound like a simple situation. I’m fairly young, so I don’t know things about the business. I’m hoping that they stay, but it’s like they won’t.” Having endured the team’s 20-year go after a replacement ballpark home, many loyal A’s fans are losing faith that a deal can get done and fear their favorite team is going to be relocated.
“It’s frustrating, I’m upset, I’m angry, I’m sad,” Will MacNeil, a lifelong fan of the A’s said during a direct message. “It’s such a good range of emotions. It’s numerous years of a roller coaster ride and unsure what’s getting to happen and when (Dave) Kaval came in it had been like, ‘It’s finally getting to happen!’ Now I just desire he lied to us. i actually desire while it’s going to still compute we are saying goodbye to our Oakland A’s…maybe subsequent few days will recover but today my reaction is simply all the negative.”
MacNeil, from Hayward, has been a commutation ticket holder since 2005 — known on social media as Right Field Will — and has a love for his entire life. He said years of the A’s trying and failing to spot and build a replacement ballpark has him losing faith that the A’s will remain in Oakland. “I’m putting blame on the A’s and therefore the city. It’s equal,” he said. “No reason why this is often has got to be happening and couldn’t are found out a short time ago.”
Jon Rushing watched Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter play for the A’s over his 30-year fandom. Since his retirement last year, he’s been attending more games at the Coliseum but likes the thought of a replacement ballpark in Oakland. “It’s been tons of years. We’re just hoping they will pull it off in Oakland,” he said. “We think it’s good for the economy here. That’s tons of cash. To me, it doesn’t make any difference an old ballpark or new ballpark. But i do know they’re getting to need it.” Rushing said he would stop buying A’s merchandise if the team moved to a different location. He blames the town for the A’s inability to create a replacement ballpark in Oakland.
“Not in my backyard. Nobody wants houses built, and why do they need the homeless?” he said. “I think it’s more politics than anything.” Andrew Espino may be a lifelong A’s fan from San Jose who watched the Bash Brothers at the Coliseum. With all the memories at the Coliseum, Espino says he wouldn’t mind if the team build a ballpark at the present site and said he would be “heartbroken” to ascertain the A’s leave Oakland. “I think tons of the fans want the team to remain here, especially with the Raiders leaving,” Espino said. “It’s great for the community. this is often the sole sports team left in town, so I even have tons of religion that they’re getting to pull it together and make it a gorgeous project.” Sam from Berkeley, a lifelong fan and East Bay native, points a finger at the town of Oakland for not making the A’s a priority.
“I would ask the town to form it a bigger priority to return to an agreement,” he said. “It seems to be the A’s and city aren’t on (the) same page. A ballpark development near London Square would be amazing. I might definitely attend more games.” City staff has recommended that the council vote yes on the draft of a tentative development agreement while the 2 sides still negotiate their respective financial obligations. But the A’s say the exclusion of an off-site tax district at London Square may be a dealbreaker on the city’s latest term sheet. A’s outfielder Mark Canha, who grew up in San Jose and visited Cal, said he just hopes the team stays.
“I hope that somebody can roll in the hay, that somebody can intensify for the town of Oakland. this is often an excellent market. The people of Oakland love the A’s,” he said before Friday’s game. “I’ve lived in Oakland the past two years and other people say hi to me on the road all the time, which question comes up. Just random people asking me, ‘Hey, are the A’s getting to stay?’ they need the team here. I hope somebody can intensify for the town of Oakland.” Bryan Johansen may be a longtime A’s commutation ticket holder known for crafting and hanging the banners that hang over the left-field bleacher railings. The Coliseum denizen wants to ascertain a replacement ballpark but isn’t abandoning hope that he could hang some banners during a new ballpark in Oakland.
“I don’t feel strongly a method or the opposite supported years of this constant stadium drama saga,” he said. “I try to not read into matters an excessive amount of until there’s a definitive answer a method or the opposite and just attempt to enjoy the sport on ‘Rickey Henderson’ for however long that lasts.”
