FYI - De La Fuente is most likely going to replace Jerry Brown as Mayor.

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82%7E1726%7E2264628,00.html

A's winding up to pitch new ballpark

Potential East Bay sites located in urban settings to be named in two months, official with Oakland team says


By Paul T. Rosynsky, STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND -- The Oakland A's future in the city could become clearer by summer's end, the team's ballpark scout said Friday.
Lew Wolff, the A's vice president for venue development, said he will make a recommendation to the team's owners within two months on possible locations for a ballpark within the East Bay.

"We are not too far away from focusing on sites," Wolff said. "Within 30 to 60 days, there will be more focus on what may be a possibility."

Although Wolff refused to specify possible locations, he said a new ballpark most likely would have to be built in an urban setting similar to the team's current home at the McAfee Coliseum.

"Most ballparks need to be more urban these days ... the Coliseum, I would consider urban," he said. "If you go out to Pleasanton ... that would not be a smart thing to do."



Wolff talked about the time line a day after current team co-owners Steve Schott and Ken Hofmann gave the luxury hotel and real estate developer a one-year contract extension.

In addition to maintaining his position as vice president for venue development, Wolff also will continue to have an option to buy a portion of the team should he find a site for a new ballpark.

Wolff, who has owned other sports franchises, joined the A's last November and immediately began talking with local officials about possible locations for a new stadium.

City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente, who also chairs the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, said he has had four meetings with Wolff, including one Friday.

"I am a strong believer that it is possible for the A's to build a new home in Oakland," De La Fuente said. "It could be part of a major development of commercial retail and housing."

Alameda County Supervisor Gail Steele, also a member of the Authority, said, "I don't think they want to leave and go somewhere else." Wolff's hiring last year and Schott's connections to the South Bay have raised speculation the team is seriously considering a move to San Jose or another South Bay city.

Wolff is friends with San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, owns a part of the San Jose Fairmont Hotel and built the San Jose Park Center Plaza. Schott's home building business is based in Santa Clara, and he has in the past talked of moving the team there.

But the A's would have to overcome several hurdles for such a move, including the San Francisco Giants who own territorial rights to Santa Clara County.

Wolff, however, said the team wants to stay in the East Bay and is willing to "contribute a good piece" of the costs for a new stadium.

A city-commissioned study in 2001, which identified seven potential sites within Alameda County that could host a new ballpark, found costs for such a project would range from $385 million to $565 million.

quote:

---

Wolff, however, said the team wants to stay in the East Bay and is willing to "contribute a good piece" of the costs for a new stadium.

---

The team could keep their money and invest it in more talent by coming up to Portland.

quote:

---

found costs for such a project would range from $385 million to $565 million.

---

Gotta hate those high California construction costs. Oregon can build a state of the art stadium for $350 million.

The A's staying in Oakland sounds like a very cost prohibitive proposition compared to being welcomed in Portland.