Why the Athletics Won't Be a Hit Like the Golden Knights
The Oakland Athletics are making their way to Sin City. However, they won't be instant successes like the Golden Knights. Here's why.
1. Ownership
John Fisher isn't the most likable person on the planet. He's run shoe-string budgets, failed to renovate Oakland Coliseum, and has raised ticket prices even when the A's have been terrible. Aside from being a punchable person, there aren't many things one can do with Fisher.
Compare that to Bill Foley, who's the pinnacle of excellence in the NHL. An honorable owner who fulfilled his promise of a Stanley Cup in six seasons, Foley has made the Vegas Golden Knights into a household name. The Golden Knights have also acquired big names in recent memory, making them the Stanley Cup favorites.
If an average sports fan was asked who'd they rather have between Fisher and Foley, Foley would win 99% of the time. The Golden Knights owner has established a winning culture in Las Vegas, making hockey matter... in a desert. Speaking of relocating...
2. The Vegas Golden Knights Are Originally From Las Vegas
Why would Las Vegas residents want another Oakland team on their hands? At least the Raiders fan base travel well, having fans in Las Vegas and California. The same can't be said for the Athletics, whose popularity resides in Oakland and its surrounding areas.
One thing Gary Bettman can claim superiority over Rob Manfred (and rightfully so) is making hockey in Las Vegas work. After awarding Foley an NHL franchise in Sin City, Bettman and company have carefully planned events in the area, ranging from having the NHL Draft in Las Vegas to the NHL All-Star Game. The NHL is even hosting the NHL Draft in the Sphere this summer.
Las Vegas is a tourist attraction, bringing in numerous visitors across the globe. It'll be difficult to grow a fan base with a team with low attendance numbers in Oakland. That's especially true with an owner like John Fisher, who's desperate to shoehorn a baseball team in the Entertainment Capital of the World. Las Vegas residents want their own team, and the response is growing every day.
Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman told the Front Office Sports Today podcast that the Athletics' stadium plan "does not make sense" and the team should "figure out a way to stay in Oakland." https://t.co/wXe6ObTOFF
— ESPN (@espn) February 6, 2024
3. The Athletics Just... Stink
Last season, the Oakland Athletics racked up 112 losses, sitting dead last in MLB. The team was such a disaster that boycotts were prevalent throughout the season, protesting the team's direction.
As for the Vegas Golden Knights, well, they're were the Stanley Cup champions last season. It was the first championship in the four major sports leagues to come to Las Vegas, setting off a monumental celebration in Sin City.
It seems that success will elude the Oakland Athletics for a while, specifically with their rebuild. There's nothing in their farm system and no desire to bump up the payroll. Las Vegas would be getting a mediocre team that would be forgotten for the first two-to-three months and the last two months of baseball season. Of course, the Vegas Golden Knights would be the sole focus during that time, with the Raiders taking up the tail end with the Golden Knights.
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