The Oakland Athletics’ fans staged a “reverse boycott” during Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, chanting “sell the team” as the national anthem ended.
The demonstration was a response to recent news that the A’s ownership is actively working to relocate the team to Las Vegas.
Driving the news: Fans are frustrated with the A’s ownership, who they feel has not done enough to keep the team in Oakland. The A’s have played in the Coliseum since 1968, but the stadium is outdated and in need of significant renovations.
- The A’s have been on a winning streak, with Tuesday’s victory marking their seventh straight win. The team’s success on the field has been overshadowed by the uncertainty surrounding their future in Oakland.
- The team has been seeking a new stadium for years, but negotiations with the city of Oakland have been slow and contentious. The A’s have explored other options, including building a new stadium in the city of Fremont, but that proposal was ultimately scrapped.
- The possibility of the team leaving Oakland has sparked outrage among fans, who see the A’s as a vital part of the community.
- Tuesday, the Nevada State Senate voted 13-8 to approve a $380 million subsidy to aid the team’s relocation to Las Vegas. The bill will still require approval from the 42-member Nevada Assembly and the signature of a supportive Gov. Joe Lombardo.
What they’re saying: The reverse boycott was organized by a group of fans who want to send a message to the A’s ownership that they need to do more to keep the team in Oakland. One fan, who participated in the demonstration, said, “We’re here to tell ownership that we’re not going to stand for them taking our team away from us.”
- Another fan added, “We’re tired of being jerked around. We want the A’s to stay in Oakland, and we want ownership to make it happen.
- The A’s ownership has not yet responded to the demonstration, but it’s clear that the team’s future in Oakland is a contentious issue that is not going away anytime soon.
