Column: Here’s how the billionaire owner of the Oakland A’s is planning to rip off two cities at once
LA TimesSigns hang in right field at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland during a major league game between the Athletics and the Houston Astros. “Thus, the large subsidies commonly devoted to constructing professional sports venues are not justified as worthwhile public investments.” Billionaire John Fisher, owner of the Oakland Athletics, is trying to move the team to Las Vegas. One hired gun pushing the A’s stadium deal in Las Vegas told Shaikin that the ballpark would produce 5,400 jobs a year in team and stadium operations. The subsidy demanded from Las Vegas by Major League Baseball and A’s owner John Fisher, whose parents founded The Gap and who has a net worth estimated at $2.2 billion, would be contemptible enough. If Major League Baseball and the NFL can screw over Oakland, which supported its teams for decades, the day may come when Vegas discovers that the leagues don’t care about its fans, either.
History of this topic
The A’s clear the last major hurdle for a $1.75 billion Las Vegas stadium
Associated Press
Column: MLB players with Vegas roots skeptical of A’s relocation: ‘It’s a terrible idea’
LA Times
MLB keeping wary eye on potential Nevada vote on A’s stadium funding
LA Times
Oakland mayor meets with Rob Manfred to demonstrate city made ballpark proposal to A’s
New York Times
MLB lockout: Take a look at baseball's billionaire team owners
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