After receiving approval to relocate the team last November, the Oakland A's are now evaluating their options ahead of the move.
Their 33,000-seat stadium on the Las Vegas Strip is not ready before 2028, while the Californian team's lease at the Oakland Coliseum expires at the end of the next season, so a solution must be found for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 campaigns.
And there is no shortage of possibilities.
Team president Dave Kaval has floated the possibility of a short-term lease extension at the Coliseum, but given the broken relationship between the organization and the city, that seems unlikely.
Another option would be sharing Oracle Park with the San Francisco Giants or playing on the field of their AAA affiliate in Summerlin, Nevada.
Then, yesterday morning (Monday), John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle added a fourth avenue, reporting that the A's are considering Sacramento's Sutter Health Park. It is also a AAA level site, home to the Giants' affiliate club, the River Cats.
However, one factor to evaluate is the Athletics' local broadcasting contract. In fact, their agreement with NBC Sports California regarding television rights is in effect until 2033.
The A's would lose that broadcast revenue if they leave the Bay Area, however. So if they hope to maintain these profits between 2025 and 2027, they will need to find a stadium in this region.
Regardless of the option chosen, the finality of this file will be of great sadness for these true fans who have been present all these years.
A headache that could have been avoided.
