MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred recently had a meeting with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao to discuss potential stadium plans aimed at keeping the Athletics from relocating to Las Vegas. Thao, who sought and obtained a meeting with Manfred prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Seattle, presented the commissioner with a comprehensive report detailing the negotiations between the city of Oakland and the A’s.
Thao emphasized the importance of meeting with the commissioner in person, particularly due to the impending vote by the relocation committee. She expressed her belief that the decision to relocate the team would have a significant impact on the dedicated fan base and the working families that have a deep connection to the Oakland A’s. Thao wanted to ensure that all MLB team owners had access to accurate information before voting on the proposed relocation to Las Vegas.
Dispelling Misinformation
The documents Thao presented to Manfred included a summary of terms, an infrastructure financing plan, a preliminary development plan, design guidelines, and a tentative tract map. Thao emphasized that it was crucial for transparency purposes that Manfred, the relocation committee, and all the owners had access to this information. She aimed to dispel the notion that there was no proposal in place and wanted to ensure that everyone had real-time information about the progress made towards a new ballpark.
Contrary to public sentiment and Manfred’s previous comments, Thao clarified that Oakland did have a stadium proposal ready and that any claims suggesting otherwise were false. She acknowledged the possibility that the relocation proposal could be voted down by the owners. In that case, Oakland would be prepared to move forward with their plans to retain the team, potentially opening the door for Las Vegas to be considered for an expansion team. Manfred also mentioned that the league was already discussing the possibility of expanding from 30 to 32 teams.
Thao expressed her optimism about finding a solution that would benefit all parties involved. She believed that it was a scenario where there could be no losers, only winners. She emphasized the importance of collaboration and working together to achieve a positive outcome. Thao made the trip to Seattle to demonstrate that Oakland had a well-prepared proposal and encouraged a thorough examination of the details.
In summary, the meeting between Commissioner Manfred and Mayor Thao focused on the potential relocation of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas. Thao presented a detailed report to ensure that all MLB team owners had access to accurate information before voting on the matter. Thao dispelled the misconception that Oakland did not have a stadium proposal, emphasizing that the city was prepared to move forward with their plans to retain the team if the relocation proposal was rejected. The discussions also touched upon the possibility of expanding the league from 30 teams to 32. Thao remained optimistic and stressed the importance of collaboration in finding a mutually beneficial solution.
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