Comments on: A Wandering Life

By: LoneStranger

LoneStranger — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:03:24 +0000

Hey Everyone! I just got back from Hawaii last night so I wasn’t in the best position to respond to your comments. Just a couple responses…
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@Dan – You’ve come tom many of the same conclusions about size as I did. As far as Candlestick is concerned, $15M is nothing compared to what it would cost to build a new temporary stadium, so you can’t dismiss it as a possibility in case the temporary stadium route becomes problematic. Regarding the next contract, that’s irrelevant, because we’re playing with the idea that the Coliseum won’t exist. With the Raiders being the likely team that stays and their new stadium footprint overlapping, that’s entirely possible.
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@pjk + Dan- I fully expect the Giants to fight the A’s every which way, until the point that MLB forces them to comply, and then they’ll talk about how they’re doing it all for the best interest of baseball. If the Giants know the A’s are staying regardless, I think they’d pick the option that gains themselves more money.
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@David – Thanks for playing, but the rules were that the Coliseum doesn’t exist. Dick Callahan would be announcing to an empty parking lot.
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@letgoas – The main idea isn’t that Oakland would be petty, it’s more along the lines of not having the Coliseum as an option. If the Coliseum is there, I expect Oakland to get a some millions in rent. But if it’s not…. As for the River Cats, I don’t see the A’s replacing them. They aren’t owned by the A’s and the best they could hope for is two or three series over the year while the Cats are away.
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@daveybaby – I haven’t figured it out, but eyeballing it, moving home to the goalposts would appear to take both right and left field lengths to something way short. You’d have to put a higher screen up on both sides, so it’s probably preferable to just do it on one side.
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@Mike – San Rafael Pacifics aren’t actually a minor league team as they don’t have any association with MLB or MiLB. They’re an independent league. From what I’ve seen of Albert Park, I don’t think it’s possible to expand it, and that’s ignoring the fact that the NIMBYs would be all over that.
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@All – I know many of you think that there won’t be a problem and there is no point in speculating, but the whole idea of the post is to brainstorm ideas on where the A’s could play, should they get booted from the Coliseum for any reason. The most likely situation I see, however, is that Oakland decides that the Raiders are more important (they’ve done this once before, remember) and then they’ll start to build a new football stadium on the Coliseum grounds. If you look at the Coliseum City Complex mockups, you’ll notice that there is overlap with the current Coliseum. That means it will have to be torn down. So regardless of where the new A’s stadium is to be–on the other side of the Coliseum grounds, San Jose, Victory Court, Howard Terminal–the A’s still need to play somewhere for a couple years.
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As Marine Layer posted in his follow-up, perhaps the best option is to go with something brand new, and built to be temporary. This is more likely if the A’s don’t get granted rights to Santa Clara County, as there aren’t any real viable existing locations in the East Bay.

By: Nicosan

Nicosan — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:54:52 +0000

@pacificness San Joaquin County has fewer than 700k. The East Bay has 2 million plus. Its much different population, and its also not transit connected like the East or South Bay. I’m from Fresno County, not even Fresno would work and its the biggest part of the San Joaquin Valley.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 23:20:19 +0000

sheesh

By: Pacificness

Pacificness — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:48:17 +0000

@Marine Layer – The A’s have spent the last 40+ years in a city with very similar demographics as Stockton. The other points listed on the Stockton paragraph were specific to Banner Island. Stagg Stadium has easily handled crowds of 30k+ in the past and, particularly during the summer, the University would be able to handle parking. Stockton by no means is ideal, but having a park with normal dimensions and normal seating that is easily within striking distance from the Bay and from Sacramento seems to make more sense than 60 foot walls or moving them out of state. With the local minor league hockey team frequently drawing over 9k is hardly seems outlandish that a pro baseball team wouldn’t consistently draw well.

By: Marine Layer

Marine Layer — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 20:18:01 +0000

@Pacificness – No offense to Stockton, but the A’s wouldn’t do anything more than a series there due to the demographics and other factors I cited.

By: Pacificness

Pacificness — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:35:23 +0000

There is another option with the proper capacity, ability to have proper dimensions, a fan base that would be fairly interested, and a location easy enough to drive or take a train to from the bay. What great option could exist? Stagg Stadium at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. The stadium holds 28,000 in its current state but has been crumbling since the demise of UOP football in 1995. Earlier this year the University announced plans to take the stadium down due to its lack of use and the lack of upkeep. Minimal improvements would make the stadium safe and proper again and with no immediate construction slated for that area of the campus the existing stadium could be configured as the A’s desire. http://pacific.prestosports.com/tickets/general_ticket/stagg/index

A second option in Stockton would be the now unused Billy Hebert Field, the former home of the Ports. The field currently holds 6,000 and has a ton of room down both the left and right field lines to add 6-10k more. Room for additional bleachers in left and right field could likely bring the overall capacity to 15-20k. http://www.littleballparks.com/Stadium/2004/Stockton/Stockton.htm

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 03:26:00 +0000

Can’t believe I forgot to mention this when someone mentioned Candlestick…

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/San-Francisco-Plans-to-Demolish-Candlestick-146290505.html

It won’t exist after the 2013 football season. It will have been long demolished by the time the 2014 baseball season starts.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 01:58:53 +0000

gorse, there’s already room for that at Candlestick now. Candlestick hosts FIFA regulation soccer games all the time. (By the way that’s FIFA recommended. FIFA minimum is 110×70 yards). But soccer field size has little to do with a stadium’s ability to host baseball.

By: gorse

gorse — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 01:11:59 +0000

Soccer fields dimensions required by FIFA are 105mt x 68mt (=115yds x 75 yds).

Don’t see the room for that at Candlestick, unless they tear down some stands.

By: Jed York

Jed York — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 23:39:02 +0000

what about a few games @ the new 49ers stadium? oh wait…