Read the entire article here on the Oakland Tribune website.

A's fans now owe Schott, Hofmann 100 million cheers

By Dave Newhouse
The Oakland Tribune

THE WELCOMING news from the Oakland A's had the same feeling as standing under a tropical waterfall, physically refreshed and cleansed by the descending mist and also mentally stimulated and hopeful.

The agony of waiting is over, and we can now remove from our minds any lingering negatives about the A's commitment to Oakland. That mind-set changed Thursday when a ballpark finally began to take shape, albeit on paper.

It won't be downtown, and it isn't a done deal, meaning the project could yet leave diehard Oakland baseball fans drowning in their own tears if the ballpark of their dreams doesn't come to fruition.

But to say prematurely it won't misses the point badly. For optimism abounds, and Steve Schott, Ken Hofmann and especially Lew Wolff are to be congratulated for the financial commitment that is, at last, a reality.

A's owners Schott and Hofmann will contribute $100 million to a ballpark, according to Wolff, their successful troubleshooter. With the ballpark's cost speculated at $399 million, that's a solid 25-percent commitment, and you can't realistically expect more.

The ballpark won't be situated next to the historic Fox Theater in downtown Oakland

because of Mayor Jerry Brown's proposed Forest City housing project, approved Tuesday by the Oakland City Council.

The ballpark now is targeted for the Coliseum parking lot, on the Oakland side of the stadium-arena complex. There will be three parking garages for fans worried about losing tailgating space. And no Mt. Davis nosebleeds.

The Coliseum lot was the second-best location, after downtown, in the expert opinion of HOK Sport of Kansas City, the nation's premier ballpark architects.

Oakland isn't San Francisco. So there is no chance of a privately financed ballpark being built on the east side of the Bay as now exists on the west side at China Basin. With the attractive waterfront sites near Jack London Square also committed to new housing, all hope was lost for a Chavez Cove.

But hope isn't lost on Eric Chavez.

"It would be nice for us, but I think how great it would be for our fans," Chavez, the A's star, said of a new ballpark while speaking with ANG Newspapers staff writer Josh Suchon in Seattle Thursday. "I've noticed that we have more fans this year, and it would be nice if they had something like this."

Chavez spread his arms as he looked around lovely Safeco Field.

The Coliseum isn't the most attractive site for a ballpark, but it's the most financially feasible piece of land after downtown. And the Coliseum lot is considerably more attractive than anywhere the A's owners have threatened to move to if the ballpark isn't built.

I've maintained for 20 years the A's won't move, in spite of the continuing conjecture otherwise. But to bury such nonsense for good, there must be a 75-percent financial commitment from the private sector to make a ballpark with minimal foul territory actually rise by Interstate 880.

With Schott and Hofmann now on board with their checkbooks, that's a healthy sign, and a positive indicator to corporate entities the A's aren't going any place, especially Santa Clara, which wasn't a possibility anyway.

Schott and Hofmann can do no more. Now it's up to big-time businesses to ensure the first shovel of dirt is dug up so that Kaiser Field, Clorox Park or Ask Jeeves Stadium -- you get the idea -- will grace Oakland's skyline.

I've taken numerous shots at Schott in this space. And I've hacked at Hofmann, the invisible man, as well. Now I'd like to thank both men for stepping up to the plate in a manner that would make the Bash Brothers proud.

Schott and Hofmann have walked the talk, talked the walk, or whatever. There is genuine excitement today in Oakland. Regardless of what happens from this point, you can't begin without a beginning. Schott and Hofmann have given us that. And thank you, Lew Wolff, regardless of the one-year option you now have to buy controlling interest of the A's just for having located a site.

This now has taken place, and although it isn't the most aesthetic spot, it exists, and for that we can all be grateful. Only please make it look like a downtown ballpark. Make it the Michelangelo of baseball facilities.

But just the idea of such a magnificent edifice in Oakland washes over the soul with the soothing effect of a watery cascade on some far off island.

Without getting wet.

Dave Newhouse can be reached at 510-208-6466 or by e-mail at dnewhouse@angnewspapers.com