John Fisher on if Sacramento is an option for the A’s after 2024
Aug 23, 2023, 11:00 AM | Updated: Aug 24, 2023, 12:47 pm
OAKLAND, CA - JULY 19: Owner Lew Wolff and Owner John Fisher of the Oakland Athletics talk in the stands during the game against the Houston Astros at the Oakland Coliseum on July 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Astros 4-3. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
After the 2024 MLB season, John Fisher may have to find a new home for the Oakland A’s.
Fisher is currently in the midst of attempting to move the Athletics from the Bay Area to Sin City. Plans to relocate accelerated this year when the organization changed direction after years of trying to work with the city of Oakland and a new stadium at Howard Terminal and announced multiple binding agreements with Las Vegas properties.
Ultimately, the team landed a spot at the Tropicana where a $1.5 billion, nine-acre stadium is expected to be built. The ballpark, which was granted $380 in public funding for construction earlier this summer, would include a retractable roof and roughly 30,000 seats. Early estimates have said the stadium may not be available to the team until at least 2028.
And with the A’s lease at the Oakland Coliseum ending after the 2024 season, many have speculated as to where they’ll play until their stadium is built. Cities like Sacramento and Reno have been mentioned because of their proximity and with minor-league ballparks potentially available. In a recent interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Mick Akers, Fisher addressed these potential options.
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“They’re both minor-league facilities that would require changes to make them major-league ready,” Fisher told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I haven’t had the conversation with Major League Baseball yet, as to where they would like us to play going forward.”
In the same interview, Fisher announced the team has officially submitted its relocation application. The next move for relocation to become official is approval from 75% of MLB owners. A timeline for when that vote may take place is currently unknown.
And despite “sell the team” chants that have overtaken the Coliseum, he has no intention to move on as owner.
“I have not considered selling the team. I’ve now owned the team with my partner Lew Wolff, it’s shocking really how the time flies, but since 2005,” Fisher said. “Our goal since then has been to find a new home and build a new home for our team.”
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