Oakland A’s $12B Ballpark Plan Won’t Have Public Vote

The A’s are one step closer to building a new ballpark after the Oakland City Council voted against putting the team’s proposed $12 billion development project through an advisory vote. 

“The Oakland City Council has provided clear direction in our negotiations with the A’s,” tweeted Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf. “Oakland taxpayers will be protected from the costs of the ballpark and associated development. We have learned the mistakes of the past.” 

An advisory vote would have allowed the public to weigh in on the team’s proposed project. 

• The Oakland City Council voted 4-2 against the advisory vote on November’s ballot.
• It allows the A’s to circumvent any potential approval delays for the project.
• The voting process included an abstention by Oakland vice mayor Rebecca Kaplan. 

Last month, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission voted 23-2 to remove Howard Terminal’s “port use” designation — clearing a major hurdle for the A’s to start the development of their project, which includes a $1 billion, 35,000-seat ballpark. 

It also features a 400-room hotel, 270,000 square feet of retail space, and 3,000 housing units. 

Long Way to Go 

The A’s plans for a new ballpark are still a long way from coming to fruition.

The team must agree to a deal with the city of Oakland, which has been an arduous process due to negotiations regarding affordable housing.

The A’s could also move to the Las Vegas area, where management has selected two potential sites.