Oakland A’s Hit with Lawsuit Over $12B Ballpark Plans

The Oakland A’s have hit yet another roadblock to getting their new stadium plans approved.

On Friday, several local organizations filed a lawsuit against the team for its plans to build a ballpark on the Howard Terminal waterfront. The complaint alleges the ballpark’s plans don’t properly meet environmental standards — specifically, the California Environmental Quality Act.

The plaintiffs included truckers, port workers, and cargo operators. 

• In response, Oakland A’s team president Dave Kaval called the lawsuit “absolutely crazy.”
• “It’s an odd way to use an environmental law to prevent the environmental review from being completed,” Kaval reportedly said.

If approved, the $12 billion project would include not only a new baseball stadium, but also recreational parks, commercial buildings, and apartment buildings. 

If the city doesn’t approve the new stadium, it might lose the team. The A’s have reportedly made bids on five Las Vegas sites.

Previous Setback

The news comes just two weeks after local officials used a bureaucratic technicality to slow the project. 

In order for the stadium plans to go ahead, Oakland’s Howard Terminal waterfront area must not be designated for “port use.” However, the Seaport Planning Advisory Committee voted 5-4 (with one abstention) to maintain the area’s “port use” status.

A final decision is expected July 7.