30 November 2006
How we got to this point
East Bay Express writers Robert Gammon and Chris Thompson have this week's cover story, a thorough chronology of events over the past several years that led up to the Pacific Commons plan. Even though the full article is available online, I suggest you get a (free) copy wherever you can. I can't comment on all of the workings of the Oakland political machine, but I can say that the Fremont scenario described in the article played out exactly as I heard it nearly a year ago. It's definitely a must-read.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
Well said, Jeff.
I believe the only realistic location in Oakland was Uptown, and I would have loved to have seen that become reality. It would have been best for the A's, for Oakland and for the fans. But Brown killed that for his buddies at Forrest. For that, I mostly blame him. IDF can be an ass and is clearly blowing smoke to save his image in all this, but I don't think it's primarily his fault (outside his role in bringing the Raiders back, that is).
Like you, I'm happy with the move to Pacific Commons and also believe that's much better than moving out of state, which is the only other realistic alternative.
Well, Well,Well...it was just two years ago that Lew Wolff told Mr. Haggerty that Fremont was NOT an option for an A's ballpark; but now it is! In August Lew Wolff told the SJSV Chamber that San Jose was NOT an option. Two years from now...?
Nothing is changing politically in San Jose to make it more viable. Territorial rights are still the big obstacle.
Props to Scott Haggerty without his persistance the A's are moving out of state. Unlike IDLF and Brown, Haggerty is an A's fan.
Because someone will offer them a sweet stadium deal and the promises of riches in an exclusive market. History has shown us several examples of teams leaving a shared market for a smaller one they can have to themselves, including our own A's.
What happens afterward doesn't matter. The A's will already be gone. The promise, the allure -- these are very real and we've seen them extended by all the usual suspects. If the A's can't find anything locally, I believe they will answer the call to one of these municipalities, whether it be fool's gold or not.
The "nowhere to go crowd" said nobody would move to DC/ Northern VA .. Angelos wouldn't allow it .. yadda yadda yadda
I was in San Diego at a conference this week and stayed at the Omni Hotel, which is directly connected to Petco Park. It was wonderful to see how the ballpark fit in so well with the revitalized downtown area with the convention center and tons of restaurants and bars nearby. It's such a shame that Brown and DeLaFuente couldn't see the same benefits for Oakland.
Anon 11:19,
And it is such a shame that downtown San Jose was BANNED from reaping the developement benefits of a ballpark because of the Giants socialist territorial rights (do we live in the U.S. or former Soviet republic?). RIP Baseball San Jose; the website no longer exists Marinelayer.
Post a Comment