The Oakland A’s hold significance within our community as they have been part of our city for over 50 years, contributing to the city’s economy and providing entertainment for their fans. Oakland now has no sports team after the team recently decided to relocate to Las Vegas. Their departure to Las Vegas could impact the financial landscape, taking away people’s jobs, local businesses, and more.
The Oakland A’s have been part of the city since 1968, playing their home games at the Oakland Coliseum. Oakland is the longest place the A’s have settled in since their move from Kansas City, where they played from 1955-1967, and before that in Philadelphia, from 1901-1955 where they were known as the Philadelphia Athletics. The A’s have won multiple championships, making them the 3rd most successful team in the MLB, with a series of championships from 1910-1989. One of their most memorable victories was the famous “Battle of the Bay” against the San Francisco Giants standing as a key moment in their career.
After leaving Oakland, the A’s will no longer have an economic impact on the city when they relocate to Las Vegas. The A’s helped with a variety of things like local businesses, providing Jobs, and transportation for local residents. Nearby restaurants, bars, and shops, would benefit greatly from the amount of visitors on Game Day coming in, including both longtime fans and fans outside of Oakland who help support hotels and city tourism during their stay. The A’s generate tax revenue which contributes to Oakland’s tax base, and helps fund public services along with Oakland’s community.
The city’s economy might be significantly impacted by the A’s departure since local businesses near the coliseum may lose part of their customers, which could result in closure and job losses. Employees at the stadium, including ticket sellers, vendors, and parking attendants, may also lose their jobs. According to Oakland Tech student Jonathan Clerk expresses that the A’s departure will likely decrease in team merchandise and affect the overall economy. “This is our last sports team,” he says, displaying his concern over the loss for Oakland. As the final team remaining to represent Oakland, the A’s departure will deprive Oakland’s supporters of their home team and have a significant impact on the city’s revenue received from the A’s games which helps fund public services.
Oakland’s economy will have fresh opportunities as a result of the A’s departure. The coliseum has the potential to diversify its economy and redevelop into something else that can attract businesses, create jobs, and bring in revenue which will boost Oakland’s economy more than the A’s did. Other cities have been redeemed as successful after successfully revitalizing their space after the loss of major sports teams.