Based on the title alone, you’re probably thinking “What is this guy even talking about, now?”. Let me explain. We all know that the Oakland Athletics will be moving to Las Vegas and playing in their new stadium a few years from now. But, here’s the thing. The stadium has not even started being constructed yet. They’re already planning on playing in Sacramento starting next season until this new stadium is ready. Even when it is ready, the team doesn’t want to play all of their home games in said stadium.
According to reports, the Athletics are requesting to play home games outside of their new stadium when it is open. Up to eight games, to be exact. Why, you ask? I’ll explain. To be short, this just adds to the list of bad decisions ownership is making.
To Attract And Build The Brand
Athletics president Dave Kaval wants the team to play home games outside of the Las Vegas stadium to “attract players and sponsors” while also building the franchise’s brand.
First off, this is actually a bad idea. As long as everything goes to plan, you’re going to have this brand-new stadium that is going to look phenomenal and more modern than the Coliseum. You’re telling me you don’t want to play in your new ballpark because you feel like playing games somewhere else will attract others to play for you?
That’s like saying you want this new toy and once your parents buy it for you, you don’t even play with it. It’s honestly a brainless idea from Kaval and John Fisher.
Yes, the MLB allows teams to play a few home games outside of their stadium. But, it’s for international contests to help expand the game. In the Athletics’ case, they’re doing it to expand their already tarnished brand. They have a better chance of just playing their games in their new stadium so fans feel the need to experience it for themselves. After all, die-hard A’s fans already have to deal with the old (but memorable) Coliseum. The least you can do is allow them and give them the best experience at the new Vegas ballpark.
Some people don’t get a chance to see every or most A’s games. If there’s a certain day when they want to but the team is playing a home game outside of the Vegas ballpark, do you know how devastating that particular part of people will be?
Don’t make this complicated. No matter how you put it, this is a bad idea. Honestly, their first bad decision was moving to Vegas instead of getting a ballpark done in Oakland. But, it is what it is.
This whole “playing home games outside of our new stadium” adds to the terrible things that Fisher and Kaval are doing to the organization. It’s up to Las Vegas to vote on moving forward with this. We hope they vote no on it.
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Featured Image: KSNV
