In a letter to fans, Oakland Athletics’ principal owner John Fisher reiterated his long-standing position that the franchise did its best to stay in Oakland. The letter, which was shared on social media, comes in advance of the Athletics’ final three games at the storied Oakland Coliseum, after which the club will move to Sacramento before settling in Las Vegas permanently.
A letter from A’s owner John Fisher to fans: pic.twitter.com/YwlLAuMQ4W
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) September 23, 2024
“Though I wish I could speak to each one of you individually, I can tell you this from the heart: we tried. Staying in Oakland was our goal, it was our mission, and we failed to achieve it,” Fisher’s letter read in part. “And for that I am genuinely sorry.”
The letter closes by hoping that fans will join the team on its next journey, with Fisher adding, “I hope we will make you proud.”
Beginning Tuesday, the 67-89 A’s will welcome the Texas Rangers for a three-game set. Tuesday’s game will celebrate Roberto Clemente, while Wednesday and Thursday will have themed promotions in celebration of the Coliseum, including a commemorative ticket and replica of the stadium. The A’s will finish the 2024 regular season in Seattle.
A little over a week ago, prolific player agent Scott Boras levied concerns about the conditions that major league players will face in Sacramento, including high temperatures, as well as the adequacy of Sutter Health Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants’ Triple A affiliate, who will share the park with the A’s.
“The city of Sacramento has to understand what major-league players, coaches, media and other owners are going to say about the city when Major League Baseball is playing at a facility that is unlike all other major-league facilities,” Boras said in an interview with The Athletic. “All of this risk for MLB players is created so two teams can play a season on one field all the while we have a major-league facility less than 60 miles away sitting empty. It just doesn’t seem rational if player health and safety is paramount.”
To that end, Major League Baseball said the move is “a certainty,” adding that the league “is continuing to work productively with the MLBPA on the details of the transition.”
The larger move to Las Vegas has been widely criticized by fans and pundits alike. Just last week, Green Day’s lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, took aim at Fisher at a concert at Oracle Park. “We don’t take no s— from people like John f—— Fisher, who sold out the Oakland A’s to Las f—— Vegas,” Armstrong said. “I f—— hate Las Vegas. It’s the worst s—hole in America.”
(Top photo of Oakland Coliseum: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
