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A's owner raises more questions than answers
by Wes Bowers
Article Launched: 01/18/2007 04:10:34 PM PST

One of the largest audiences to attend a Fremont City Council meeting crowded the city chambers Tuesday night to hear what Oakland Athletics' owner Lew Wolff would pitch.

Many thought Wolff would give a presentation for his proposed "ballpark village" in Warm Springs.

However, the baseball executive revealed little more than what was announced at Cisco Systems' headquarters last November.

What Wolff did present was a series of "What if" questions that he hopes he can answer in coming months.

"What if we can create the most unique ballpark in the country?" "What if we built it in the heart of the district?" "What if we could make it comparable to Santana Row?"

When asked what his village might look like, Wolff explained he had experts who might be able to answer that better, and that this was not the time to do so.

"I don't want to, or just can't get into a lot of details right now," he said. "We have a lot more to do before we present the ballpark. But we're further along than most people think."

What Wolff did reveal Jan. 16 was a partial name for the team, stating the term "at Fremont" would be part of the moniker.

Whether the team would be the Oakland Athletics at Fremont, or simply the Athletics at Fremont, was not disclosed.

"Whatever we name it and right now it's still the Oakland A's we had millions of permeations, it will be Ôat Fremont,' not Ôof Fremont,'" he said.

Wolff still contended the 35,000-square-foot stadium, dubbed Cisco Field, would seat 32,000 fans.

The ballpark will be flanked by a "baseball village," which would showcase a mixture of mixed-use housing and commercial businesses.

Housing would be "mostly townhomes" totaling 2,900 units.

When asked what the commercial and retail aspects of the village would be, Wolff compared his idea to San Jose's Santana Row.

Features of the new ballpark were also discussed.

Inside the stadium, the outfield seating structures would be bordered by team offices, and a large scoreboard in centerfield would not only face fans, but be double sided to face citizens outside the stadium.

The A's and Cisco Systems hope to provide fans with electronic scorecards and personal television screens at each seat in order to watch instant replays.

Wolff said next steps in the process are to discuss issues such as the development's design quality, the site plan, cost and benefits to the city, parking and traffic concerns, and environmental issues with both the city and the public.

Additionally, Wolff said the team needed to complete a property transaction for the site, and then file the proper requests and follow all proper steps the city would likely ask of the A's.

Adding that while he wanted to follow all the proper procedures and channels, Wolff said he also wants to accelerate the process. He stated in November that he would like to see a new ballpark built in 36 to 60 months.

"We have been and will continue to interact with the city manager and city staff," he said. "This looks like a tremendous win for all of us: the A's, Cisco and Fremont."

While many who spoke at the meeting favored the A's coming to town, there were some who urged caution.

Vinton Bacon, a Sierra Club representative, said the city should not take the accelerated approach that Wolff had stated the team wants.

"We have strong concerns about this project," Bacon said. "The potential impacts are enormous, and common sense would tell you to slow down to examine these impacts."

Alec Novovich, a representative of the California Natural Plant Society, also expressed concern of the ballpark's impact on nearby Don Edwards San Francisco National Wildlife Refuge.

"We are very lucky to have that refuge, and we should cherish and maintain it," he said. "The property (Wolff purchased) in Warm Springs is adjacent to the refuge, and Warm Springs has many threatened species of both plants and animals."

Resident John Landers said that while he found Wolff to be personable and forthcoming, many questions still needed to be answered.

"The hype is just liable to bulldoze everything as time goes on," he said. "Some of us want to know who pays for what and if we are taking a risk. The public really wants to know what's going on."

Conversely, Fazler Khan, a member of Fremont Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors, said the new park would bring many benefits to the city.

"The A's have an economic benefit and that's generating revenue and employment to our citizens," he said. "This will be the most modern stadium in the world, and Fremont will be world renown."

Fremont City Manager Fred Diaz said staff will return to the city council in the coming weeks with a letter of intent to begin negotiations with Wolff.

Council members were pleased with what Wolff presented, and expressed interest in approving a baseball stadium when actual plans are presented.

"I think you painted a great picture for us and I think the community is willing to work with you every step of the way," Councilmember Anu Natarajan said.