Oakland Athletics Says Goodbye to Oakland After Almost 6 Decades

The Athletics said goodbye to Oakland, California, after 57 years amid much fanfare and grief.
The storied franchise now has to wait a few years for its permanent home.
The A’s beat the Texas Rangers 3–2 in their final game at the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday in front of an announced crowd of 46,889. Several former players were in attendance to say farewell, including Hall-of-Fame outfielder Ricky Henderson and Oakland native Dave Stewart, who both threw out the first pitch.
Athletics owner John Fisher has been widely criticized for the move, and fans chanted “sell the team” at the final game. Fisher claimed he had no choice but to move the franchise after failing to get financing for a new stadium in Oakland. He penned an open letter to the team’s fans explaining the decision.
Oakland has been hit hard by departures of its professional sports teams.
Those departures made the A’s defection even more poignant for the fans because it was the city’s last major professional sports franchise. Fisher said he felt the fans’ pain and apologized for his decision.
“There are millions of dedicated and passionate A’s fans, in Oakland and around the world. Countless dedicated staff members and Oakland Coliseum employees have poured their hearts into this team, and their efforts have meant so much to our community,” Fisher said in the letter. “I know there is great disappointment, even bitterness. 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. And for that I am genuinely sorry.”
The question now is whether Major League Baseball can thrive in Las Vegas. The Raiders routinely sell out their games, and Las Vegas hosted Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium.
The A’s had much success in Oakland, winning four World Series championships for the city. Fisher hopes the fans will continue to support the team in Las Vegas, but it’s a hard sell.
“Looking ahead, I hope you will join our beloved A’s as we move forward on this amazing journey,” Fisher wrote to the fans. “I hope I will see you again sporting the Green and Gold. And I hope we will make you proud.”