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Oakland City Council grants A's extension
Deal could keep team at McAfee through 2010

FROM STAFF REPORTS
Article Last Updated:11/02/2006 03:58:07 AM PST

OAKLAND "” The City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a lease extension to keep the Oakland A's at McAfee Coliseum through at least 2010 and possibly longer.

The deal will mean $2.8 million in additional revenue for the city of Oakland and Alameda County. But several council members acknowledged the lease extension is a stop gap measure as team owners look for a new home, perhaps in Fremont.

Councilman Larry Reid (Elmhurst-East Oakland) said he hoped Mayor-elect Ron Dellums and the council could convince the A's to stay in Oakland, but doubted it was possible.

"I truly think the A's are out of here in three or four years," Reid said, adding that he did not think there was the political will to subsidize a new stadium for the defending American League West champions. Council President Ignacio De La Fuente (Glenview-Fruitvale) said he was more hopeful the A's would stay in town. Both De La Fuente and Reid are members of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, which oversees the stadium.

Councilmembers Jane Brunner (North Oakland) and Jean Quan (Montclair-Laurel) said the city should do a better job of publicizing what city officials are doing to keep the team from leaving Oakland.

The deal also gives the A's three one-year options, which could extend the lease through the 2013 baseball season. Should the team stay that long, the authority will collect an additional $3 million in rent payments.

Under the terms of the deal, the A's would be penalized for breaking the lease early unless they move to a ballpark inside the county. If the team moves to a stadium outside Alameda County, the authority would gain control of all concession sales, except for items sold during A's games.

The deal must be approved by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.