Tri-Valley Herald


East Bay happy to keep A's in Oakland

Business and political leaders begin searching for ways to finance new stadium

By Paul T. Rosynsky, STAFF WRITER


OAKLAND -- Now that the Oakland A's have said they would spend up to $100 million for a new ballpark in the city, East Bay officials acknowledged Friday it's up to them to figure out what it will take to make the project happen.
The revelation that A's owners believe the Coliseum parking lot is the best location for a new ballpark and that they're not interested in moving to the South Bay has sparked enthusiasm among local leaders.

"There is now a big piece of the puzzle filled," said Oakland City Councilman Danny Wan. "We can start talking now."

The A's position gives both political and business leaders something to work with as they begin the tedious task of trying to secure financing, they said.

"This is going to cause a lot of people to say, 'OK, here we go,'" said Joe Haraburda, president of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. "The creative juices will start flowing."

But while the report was viewed in the East Bay as an A's commitment to Oakland, it was seen as a negotiating ploy by South Bay baseball boosters.

"They have to say they want to stay in Oakland," said Larry Stone, a longtime South Bay baseball backer and Santa Clara County assessor. "They can't go up there and say we are going to look in the South Bay, but we want this site."

Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, who has lobbied for a ballpark in Fremont, also questioned the report's findings. "I approach this very guarded," he said. "I am not convinced that the A's are not still thinking somewhere else outside the county."

Speculation that the A's would eventually move to the South Bay has permeated any discussion about a new ballpark for the team. But to make such a move south, the team would have to challenge Major League Baseball territorial rights. Lew Wolff, the A's vice president for venue development, said Thursday that's one avenue the team is not interested in pursuing. Territorial rights give every baseball team an area around its host city within which no other team is allowed to relocate unless approved by fellow owners.

The San Francisco Giants own rights to Santa Clara County and probably would demand a large payment from the A's to relinquish them.

Despite Wolff's statements and report, South Bay leaders continued to boast about Silicon Valley's strong business community and deep pockets.

"I don't think (the report's) findings are something that we did not know already," said David Vossbrink, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales' spokesman. "We always thought it would be a challenge."

East Bay officials dismissed the bravado and said now that the team has shown its hand, the local business community will follow

"We finally have a proposal, it is a proposal with dollars, so it is time to analyze and look at what can be done," said Councilmember Jane Brunner. "We are no longer negotiating with ourselves."

But serious questions about how the local governments and business community could come up with almost $300 million -- the ballpark is expected to cost in the $400 million range -- remain unanswered.

Would a bond measure have to go before voters?

Can the city incorporate the ballpark into a redevelopment plan for the Coliseum neighborhood?

How would the Oakland Raiders and Golden State Warriors react to the possibility of having a third stadium built within the Coliseum complex?

"You're moving too fast," said City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente. "These things take a long time, you have to look at different formulas."

Political will also will play a role, as past talks about building a new ballpark for the A's were debunked by Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown and his desire for housing downtown.

Brown continued to display his disinterest for a new stadium Friday.

"I can't comment at this stage of the discussion," he said through spokesperson T.T. Nhu.

Others, however, said Brown's support of a new ballpark is now irrelevant.

"Jerry is termed out in 2006 and I don't think the mayor is focused on the A's or anything else in Oakland," said Councilman Larry Reid (Elmhurst-East Oakland). "There is enough leadership on this council to move this issue through the process."

Any possible scenario is also made easier by the A's desire to remain close to the Coliseum.

The land is owned by the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority. It's a transportation hub and there are plans to redevelop the surrounding neighborhood.

"The vision for that whole area is one that will give us a new stadium in a place where people can come and eat and shop and spend the whole day," Reid said.

De La Fuente said he expects a more detailed report from the A's within a month. In the meantime he said he will begin discussions on creating a task force of city, county and business leaders.

"We will assemble the people and go to work," he said. "There are a lot of pieces that still have to be put together."