As the A's seem destined to move out of Oakland, community activists are demanding Alameda County take action on the future of the Coliseum.
The Oakland United Coalition, a group of community, labor and faith organizations, are urging the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to "adopt a firm stance" on what should happen to the Coliseum site after the A’s leave.
The community group held a news conference Tuesday to voice their frustration over A's owner John Fisher's actions they believe are disrupting Coliseum events and impeding future developments.
“We are here this morning to say enough is enough. We will not standby and allow a corporate entity to determine the fate of one of our most vulnerable communities," said Vanessa Riles of East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE). “We are allowing them to hold us hostage and prevent economic prosperity and wealth from our neighborhood and it's not OK. It’s not right, the community should have a say in what happens in the community.”
The A’s bought 50% of the Coliseum in 2019 from the county but still owes $45 million. The city of Oakland owns the other half of the complex, but the group wants county supervisors to take power back or get the A’s to the negotiating table.
“That land is very important to us. It is not right for them to refuse to work together for us and for them to have the rights to the land,” said Cecilia Cunningham of East Bay Housing Organizations. “This is really impacting our community, we need to do all we can to get affordable housing built on that land.”
“We want the board of supervisors to call on the Athletics to stop their interference with events at the coliseum,” said Quintona Branch of Oakland 68’s. “A place they claim is no longer viable but a place that so many people in this community and beyond have come to love and need for their livelihoods.”
NBC Bay Area’s SkyRanger was over the coliseum Monday as workers removed the signage that reads “Rooted in Oakland Since 1968."
According to a source with direct knowledge, the A’s met with the city and county recently to discuss next steps.
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A spokesperson for the A’s confirms the organization is meeting with the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) in the coming weeks to discuss the future of the Coliseum property, but did not provide additional details.
The AASEG confirms discussions are ongoing. The entertainment group was launched last year to help revitalize the coliseum property with new sports teams, hotels, and housing.
“If A’s ownership don’t want to be at the Coliseum, they should sell their portion to people that do,” said Branch.
NBC Bay Area reached out to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors for comment but have not heard back.
