THE PERILS OF SELLING THE EGGS BEFORE YOU OWN THE CHICKENS

By Bob Walsh

Sports fans will no doubt know that the Oakland As will be playing the next 1-3 years at Raley Field (Now Sutter Health Park) in West Sacramento.  Maybe.

It seems that the players union may have some serious issues with the playing surface at the "new" park.  The new surface is artificial turf, which gets REALLY HOT during the summer.  It is much warmer in Sacramento than it is in the bay area.  They have a lot of juice in that area.  There is also a further possible complication.  A new group of investors (private investors, not the city or county) now owns the Oakland Coliseum outright.  That group has expressed interest in keeping the As in Oakland.  It would be in the best interest of the club in staying in Oakland in many ways, largely because of the TV revenue.  Also the Coliseum is three times bigger than Raley Field.  Not that there is anything wrong with the "new" ball park.  It is generally considered to be the nicest, most modern minor league park in the country I understand.  It just doesn't seat the number of people that a big league park seats.  In the current configuration I think it is about 14,000.  There are plans to expand it by a few thousand for the Athletics.  

The As are already selling seats.  It may turn out to be premature.  It should shake out in a few weeks.  I will try to keep you posted.