MLB Commissioner Blames Mayor Thao for Potential Oakland Athletics Departure
As the Athletics await a crucial vote from MLB owners on the franchise’s proposed move to Las Vegas, tensions continue to rise between all parties involved. Blame is being thrown around, and the relationship between MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has taken a sour turn.
During the 2023 All-Star break, Manfred and Thao had a seemingly friendly meeting, during which Thao provided evidence of the city’s close proximity to finalizing a deal for a Howard Terminal ballpark before the A’s shifted their focus to Las Vegas. However, recent remarks made by Manfred in an interview with John Shea of the San Francisco Time.news suggested he holds Thao responsible for the potential departure of the Athletics.
While acknowledging that people are quick to criticize the A’s and MLB, Manfred pointed out that Thao’s actions and inactions should also be scrutinized. He questioned whether Thao had handled the situation well and placed some blame on her for the team’s likely move to Las Vegas.
Manfred also disputed Thao’s claim that contingencies for the A’s current Coliseum lease, including keeping the team’s name in Oakland or receiving an MLB expansion team, were discussed during their All-Star break meeting. Thao’s office, however, told the Time.news that these contingencies were indeed brought up.
During the interview with Shea, Manfred appeared frustrated at times, criticizing Thao’s “conduct” and hinting that she should share some of the responsibility for Oakland losing yet another beloved sports franchise. The NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors had previously relocated before Thao’s election as mayor.
Manfred expressed sympathy for Thao’s difficult position but asserted that she was not being truthful about the situation.
In response to Manfred’s remarks, Leigh Hanson, Thao’s chief of staff, defended the mayor’s commitment to keeping the A’s in Oakland. Hanson suggested that the fans should decide who to trust, either Thao or Manfred, as their reputations speak for themselves.
Meanwhile, the A’s have already acquired land and secured public funding from the state of Nevada for a new stadium along The Strip in Las Vegas, set to open in 2028. The relocation vote by MLB owners is reportedly scheduled for mid-November and requires a 75 percent majority in favor of the move.
The A’s lease at the Oakland Coliseum expires after the 2024 MLB season. While plans for the interim period before the completion of the Las Vegas ballpark remain uncertain, team president Dave Kaval listed the Coliseum, the home park for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, and Oracle Park in San Francisco as the most likely options.
As the fate of the Athletics lies in the hands of team owners, the relationship between Mayor Thao and Commissioner Manfred appears to be heading downhill.