Athletics owner John Fisher and his fellow stakeholders have faced relentless criticism over their controversial plan to relocate the team first to Sacramento and eventually to Las Vegas by 2028. The move hinges on the demolition of the Tropicana Casino, where they plan to build a luxurious stadium and ongoing negotiations with local leaders over public funding.
The criticism intensified on Sunday when Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Stephen Nelson, also a “SportsCenter” anchor, joined the chorus of dissenters during the Dodgers’ game against the A’s. Nelson did not mince words, questioning both the execution and morality of the move:
“It’s hard to believe this is happening, but you understand that this does happen, right? Relocations are a part of the business of sports. It’s the third move when they go to Sacramento, a fourth will be the one to Vegas if that actually happens. The Dodgers franchise knows relocations happen, but the way this one happened is shameful. It should be, anyway, because the people running it are apparently shameless. They are experiencing no embarrassment in any facet. You slash payroll 50%, boost season ticket prices 30%, and you wonder why people aren’t showing up? No, they don’t wonder. It was seemingly intentional, insidious in fact.”
Nelson highlighted the disregard for the impact on local families and workers, adding, “You tell fans ‘If you think you had it bad, I had it worse.’ Really? What about the hundreds of families, the thousands of people that will be impacted by the work that will be lost from this move? Using the wrong logo for promotional video, every step of the way, this thing has been fumbled.”
Nelson further pointed out to color commentator Jessica Mendoza that one of their colleagues, former All-Star Dontrelle Willis, grew up in the area and considers the A’s pivotal to his MLB career.
The candid remarks from Nelson are rare in the world of sports broadcasting, where commentators typically avoid such direct criticism of another team’s management. However, the A’s relocation saga has created a series of unusual and controversial situations, fueling public outrage and media scrutiny.
As the A’s inch closer to leaving Oakland, the criticism is expected to intensify. The relocation not only disrupts the lives of the fans but also has far-reaching implications for the community. With each passing day, the debate over the move continues to escalate, leaving many to wonder how much more the situation can deteriorate before a resolution is reached.