The Oakland Athletics are set to play their last game in Oakland on September 26, 2024 at 3:37 p.m. when they play against the Texas Rangers.
The Oakland Athletics have been a historic franchise since establishing their roots in Oakland in 1968. Many famous players have played for the organization and have created lasting legacies for the many fans that watched and attended their performances. Rickey Henderson who was ranked as the 23rd best baseball player of all time in ESPN’s top 100 player ranking back in 2022, is one of the many players who represented the Athletic’c culture and rich history.
The team is set to move to Las Vegas, following the same footsteps as the Las Vegas Raiders football team who also used to be located in Oakland. However they will not be able to play in Vegas until the new stadium is done being built in 2028. This means that the Athletics will need to play in Sacramento at a minor league stadium for at least three seasons.
The attendance numbers at the Athletic’s games this year have been more than underwhelming only averaging around 10,000 fans. This is due to the franchises recent lack of success in the league. The franchise has not made the playoffs since 2020, and has not been to the world series since 1990. Most fans have given up on their team and the franchise is hoping that their relocation to Las Vegas will create new opportunities for the team and fans. Las Vegas offers lots of cash flow with all of the different hotels and casinos, which will hopefully lead to more money for the Athletics franchise.
Lower Dauphin students who are MLB fans were questioned on the matter and had some interesting thoughts about the situation. Olivia Mahler, a junior, said this, “It’s kind of shocking because they’ve been there so long and it’s crazy that they’re moving to Las Vegas just like the Raiders did.”
Another student, Nathan McKelvie, who is also a junior, said, “I understand the business move, but it will be weird without the coliseum.” Baseball fans are sad to see the Oakland roots replanted in Las Vegas, but understand that it’s in the team’s best interest.
On the positive side of things, this will create opportunities that many people might not see. Kids and fans new to the MLB living in Nevada or near Las Vegas will have a new team in town to root for. Original fans in Oakland will still be able to root for their team on TV at their house or at their local sports bars in Oakland. Many fans hope to see the goodness within the sports world as the Athletics take on this new chapter in their franchise.
