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A's fire Oakland, and 49ers may fire SF
Posted on November 10, 2006 5:18 PM
Billy Beane and the rest of the Moneyball A's plan to move to Fremont in 2011. They will camp out in a new ballpark to be called Cisco Field, which will be the most technologically advanced stadium in the majors.
How they can turn away from the charm of Oakland Coliseum, home of the Greatness of the Raiders, I can't imagine. Just Wince Baby.
The A's, who share the Oakland Coliseum with the NFL's Oakland Raiders, have been searching for a suitable location and funding for a new stadium for several years. Last March, Wolff confirmed the A's interest in exploring a move to Fremont, about 25 miles south of Oakland on the east side of San Francisco Bay.That's not a move, that's a prison break. And the A's aren't the only ones looking for greener fields. 49ers owner John York played the sports media and said it was time to give up on Candlestick and stick it to San Francisco.
John has his eyes on Santa Clara and its well-heeled citizens. Like Fremont, plenty of smiling faces fronting dot-com bubble 2.0 cash-laden wallets appeal to the team owner. Visions of cash-plum merchandise sales dance in their heads.
SF Mayor Gavin Newsom probably spewed Perrier across the desk when he heard about the Niners saying hasta la vista baby on the way to the South Bay area. The Chronicle sniffed at the thought of people paying to finance a football stadium when they wouldn't do it for baseball...
If York thinks South Bay voters are sports-craved pushovers, he might want to ask ex-Giants owner Bob Lurie about the utility tax for a ballpark that was rejected 1992 when wickedly clever political strategist Jack Davis sent out 10,000 light-switch covers with Lurie's face on them. "Flip off Lurie," the cover implored San Jose voters. They did.There's a difference. Football is more popular than baseball. The Cardinals won the World Series, and about four hours later got pushed off ESPN for good when news of Red Auerbach's death hit the Intarweb. Baseball has become something to do until September rolls around and the NFL starts its season.
I think SF gets fired by the Niners and they may have to talk Gavin off the Golden Gate when that happens.