The Oakland Athletics say goodbye to their longtime home. After the Golden State Warriors and the Raiders, Oakland is now losing its last major sports franchise – a bitter setback for the region.
It’s over. The Oakland Athletics are leaving Oakland, the 3-2 win against the Texas Rangers was the last dance in the legendary Coliseum.
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After 56 years, the MLB team is moving to Sacramento, and from 2028 it will play its games in Las Vegas. It is a low point for the region. The Raiders NFL team also moved from Oakland to Las Vegas. And the Golden State Warriors went to San Francisco in 2019.
For many fans, the Athletics’ move is painful; the team has played its home games in Oakland since 1968. The team won four MLB titles.
Now the step to Las Vegas follows, which causes sadness among the fans. Posters with slogans like “Thanks for the memories” and “There’s crying in baseball today” were displayed by fans – the Coliseum was sold out at the last home game. A whopping 47,000 fans wanted to take part in the farewell.
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NBA, NFL, MLB – the brutal disintegration of Oakland
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay addressed employees and supporters in an emotional speech after the game: “To the employees who dedicate their lives to the Oakland A’s, especially those who do not come with us, I am forever grateful. I will never forget you. And to all of you, on behalf of my staff, myself, this team, all the former players and coaches, everyone who has worn the green and gold – there are no better fans than you.”
It is the end of an era, a bitter blow for the metropolis in California. The loss is heavy; the Athletics are the third major organization to turn its back on Oakland in the past five years.
First Warriors, then Raiders
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The Golden State Warriors celebrated the championships in Oakland in 2015, 2017 and 2018, but decided to change location in 2019 after more than 50 years in the city.
Today the NBA team around superstar Stephen Curry is playing in San Francisco. A season later, the Raiders followed suit, and the football players also left Oakland to play in Las Vegas.
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The A’s are doing the same thing as the NFL team in the long term; they are also moving to the desert metropolis of Nevada. The baseball team will have to wait until 2028, until then they will play their home games in Sacramento.
It is an incomparable crash for a sports city with such a great tradition. In just five years, Oakland will go from being a model metropolis for sports giants to a desert without any external sports marketing. The sports city of Oakland is now only a shadow of its former glory.
Tom Hanks frustrated
Two-time Oscar winner and world-renowned actor Tom Hanks sold popcorn at the Coliseum during his high school years. He is also frustrated by the MLB owners’ decision to agree to the Athletics’ move: “Those responsible should all go to hell.” Clear words from the Hollywood star that should reflect the opinion of many fans.
Team owner John Fisher in particular had to face a wave of outrage. Fisher tried to ease tensions with a letter to fans at the beginning of the week. But he couldn’t do that.
The legendary Coliseum is now also saying goodbye to sports. With the A’s the last permanent tenant is lost. As a result, the stadium will be reduced in size. The monument will be transformed into a park including an amphitheater, baseball field, apartments, shops, offices and other sports facilities. Another part of the city’s great sporting times will be lost.
But one fan summed up the hope of many citizens with a poster: “The soul of Oakland will survive,” it read.
The post The brutal decay of a sports metropolis appeared first on Archysport.
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