Awkward but necessary: A’s owner Lew Wolff asking for a five-year lease extension at the Coliseum. Necessary because the team’s lease is up after next season. Awkward because the A’s find themselves supplicants despite trying (with no success) to abandon Oakland for San Jose.
The Mercury News’ John Woolfolk writes about it, noting the parallel to 2006, the last time the A’s asked for (and got) an extension, while vainly chasing plans for a new stadium in Fremont, remember? This time around, the Coliseum Authority is likely to press for a longer Oakland guarantee and/or more money. Should be a fun negotiation.
Postscript: Wolff’s letter intimates if the A’s don’t get an extension that pleases them, they could move to a “temporary home venue.” Hard to envision where that might be.
