Lou Wolf Discusses Athletics’ Exit from Oakland
Lou Wolf, the former owner of the Athletics, attributes the team’s exit from Oakland to what he describes as a “sneaky” maneuver by the Giants, a rival MLB team across the bay.
In his newly released book, “Moments,” Wolf claims that the Athletics’ relocation after 57 seasons in Oakland was “100 percent due to the spiteful, shameful, and continued opposition of the Giants.” He states that this opposition frustrated the team’s efforts to find a new stadium site in neighboring areas, as reported by The Athletic.
Wolf owned the Athletics from 2005 until 2016. He highlights the Giants’ territorial claims over Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, as a significant hurdle that consistently thwarted the Athletics’ plans to move.
After a prolonged debate over stadium options in Oakland, the Athletics finally left the Oakland Coliseum after the 2024 season. They temporarily relocated to Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park—the home of the Triple-A River Cats—before making their permanent move to Las Vegas in 2028.
Current owner John Fisher, who took over from Wolf in 2016, has faced criticism from Oakland fans who blame him for the team’s departure. Interestingly, Wolf, who refers to Fisher as a “dear, longtime friend,” seems to defend him, suggesting that Fisher is unfairly blamed.
“John Fisher gets blamed for something he doesn’t deserve to be blamed for,” Wolf stated. He added that negotiating with Oakland was particularly perplexing due to the Giants’ territorial stance.
Following the announcement of their relocation, A’s fans expressed their frustration. They organized numerous protests, including a notable reverse boycott during the team’s last season in Oakland.
The departure of the Athletics means the Giants are left as the sole baseball team in the Bay Area’s market of 7.6 million people.
Recently, the Athletics broke ground on a $1.75 billion stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, which is slated to open in time for the 2028 season. The team began their second season in Sacramento last month and, as of Wednesday, leads the American League West with a record of 13-11.
