OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) – As Nevada lawmakers debated whether to approve a plan that would bring the team to Las Vegas, thousands of Oakland Athletics fans flocked to the Coliseum for what has been called a reverse boycott.
A protest from the ownership group with a clear message: sell the team to someone who will keep it in Oakland.
“Sell the team” were three words that were repeated before, during and after Tuesday’s Oakland Athletics game.
VIDEO: Oakland Mayor shows her support for reverse boycott at A’s game
Oakland Mayor Shows Her Support For Reverse Boycott At A’s Game
Thousands of Oakland A fans wore t-shirts that said “Sell.” A total of 27,759 fans were in attendance on Tuesday evening.
“I want Fisher to sell the team. I want the A’s to stay in Oakland,” said Christy Shirilla.
Shirilla’s thoughts there have been corroborated by everyone we spoke to. Those who held signs that read:
“More baseball, less greed!” said Mark Kik.
“Say Rooted in Oakland, my…” said Charlette Fuggetta.
Well, you understand what matters.
“I’m just sick of seeing this city lose teams, man. And now? Enough is enough dude!” said Christian Allen.
Yes, the frustration and sadness was evident among A’s fans. This sign read, “2 sad, 2 be smart, Oakland Forever.”
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“When I took BART, I got off the MacArthur station and the fans got on and it felt really emotional,” Shirilla said.
While viewership has declined in recent seasons, those fans can’t be blamed for that.
“They ruined the team, they let guys go, they raised ticket prices, they flirted with moving. We never wanted them to leave,” said Dustin Kayser.
During Tuesday’s game, the halls of the Oakland Coliseum were tightly packed. Vegas may seem close, but deep down, those around here believe that maybe, just maybe, the team will stay.
“I hope today makes a difference,” said Geneva Desin.
“It is sad. I am angry. I’m sad. I’m a bit hopeful, like little one,” Shirilla said.
“I would hope that maybe the owners of Major League Baseball would step in and stand up for what’s right, because you can’t do that to this fan base, there’s too much love here,” Kayser said.
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, it seems the A’s are getting closer to their goal.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Nevada State Senate passed an amended bill that would provide up to $380 million in public funding for a ballpark on the Strip.
Several lawmakers who publicly criticized the proposal last week changed their votes Tuesday as the A’s expanded the community benefits package and added elements unrelated to the ballpark.
The law is currently under consideration by the Assembly – if passed there it will go to Governor Joe Lombardo, who has promised to sign it – but that was before the Democrat-backed amendments were attached.
Bay City News Service contributed to this article.
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