Athletics turn on their fan base

A fan group in Oakland organized a “reverse boycott” of Tuesday’s home game against the Rays and drew a crowd of 27,759, the largest of the season.

The atmosphere at Oakland Coliseum was akin to a playoff game and the Athletics beat the Rays for their seventh consecutive victory.

The event included giving away green T-shirts urging owner John Fisher to sell the team so it could remain in Oakland. There was live music and a huge tailgate party before the game.

A day later, the Nevada Legislature approved its portion of the funding for a $1.5 billion ballpark in Las Vegas. Governor Joe Lombardo signed off on Thursday.

Now the Athletics’ relocation requires only approval from the MLB owners. That is not expected to be an issue, although it will take some time to review the team’s application and vote.

The team released a statement thanking the politicians without making any reference to its 56 years in Oakland. So much for the passionate fans.

But it’s also not a coincidence the NFL’s Raiders and NBA’s Warriors left Oakland after being unable to make stadium deals. The Athletics proposed several plans, none that gained much traction.

MLB could have some problems. Oakland’s lease at the Coliseum expires after the 2024 season with the new ballpark tentatively scheduled to open in 2027.

The Athletics could play the 2025 and ‘26 seasons at their 10,000-seat Triple A park in Las Vegas or negotiate a short-term lease to stay at the decrepit Coliseum.

It’s also uncertain how the sport will benefit by moving a team into a smaller media market and a 30,000-seat stadium, the smallest in the game. Or by the continued ownership of Fisher, who has run a once-thriving organization into the ground.

The Athletics would be the first team to relocate since the Expos left Montreal and became the Nationals in 2005.

Before that you have to go back to 1972, when the Washington Senators became the Texas Rangers when Ted Williams was their manager.

With the Athletics all but officially in Vegas, MLB will turn its attention to the Rays getting a new stadium deal before considering expansion.