Just when you think the Oakland Athletics have found rock bottom, they manage reach new lows.
Shortly after news broke about a new “binding” agreement for a move to Las Vegas — this time, with Bally’s and Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. — A’s fans took their boycott of games in Oakland to another level. The attendance for Monday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was listed at 2,064. Outside of the shortened 2020 season behind closed doors, it was Oakland’s worst-attended game since 1979.
Now, attendance has long been an issue for the A’s, but the blame shouldn’t be placed on the fans. It falls on owner John Fisher who has alienated the fanbase and forced the team to play in MLB’s worst stadium while shopping around for public money elsewhere.
The A's announced a paid attendance of 2,064. That is their smallest home crowd (outside of 2020) since Sept. 1979.
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) May 16, 2023
In this latest Vegas agreement, the A’s wouldn’t even own the land or build an entertainment district. Basically, Fisher would be taking a worse deal just to leave Oakland. It’s easy to understand why A’s fans would straight-up stop going to games under those circumstances.
MLB fans weren’t kind to the A’s owner either. The scenes at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum were embarrassing on Monday, and MLB allowed it to get to that point.
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This was how Twitter reacted
FAN: “You suck John Fisher.” pic.twitter.com/3HK4Fkn39Q
— Karl Buscheck (@KarlBuscheck) May 16, 2023
John Fisher killed a beautiful thing 🥁😭 https://t.co/VBS2p5AKcv
— The Rickey Henderson of Blogs (@RickeyBlog) May 16, 2023
It legitimately makes me sad to see what Fisher is doing to the A’s https://t.co/LjZqKbRwFB
— Jake Floriolli (@Jflo_22) May 16, 2023
Sell the team https://t.co/NRvrIw2v0v
— Amazin’ A’s Craze (@AmazinAsCraze) May 16, 2023
WE STILL ARE NOT THE PROBLEM ITS U JOHN FISHER AND @DaveKaval AND YET YALL DONT CARE!!! SELL IT TO SOMEONE WHO DOES CARE AND KEEP THIS TEAM IN OAKLAND!! #Athletics #SellTheTeam https://t.co/zSM7oD3O9j
— Chris Teevan (@BayAreaTeevo91) May 16, 2023
Fisher, Kaval do a high-five. "It's working to perfection." https://t.co/ANYiO2Uuox
— Jerry McDonald (@Jerrymcd) May 16, 2023
Tonight’s Coliseum crowd was far less than 2,000. https://t.co/P8qkJ3nCK6 pic.twitter.com/vKsgVHe2hd
— George Andrews (@gjandrews) May 16, 2023
MLB allowing this clown show is so embarrassing. https://t.co/YWkBV8h3a9
— 🤌🏻 (@HellaADZ) May 16, 2023
Oakland will never forgive John Fisher or Dave Kaval. #Athletics #RootedInOakland #FisherOut https://t.co/SG36CjxI3u
— Uprooted (@uprootedoakland) May 16, 2023
Throw the whole organization away https://t.co/gSN8yyOsOL
— AJ (@ajnewell_24) May 16, 2023
Will the As dip below 1,000 this year?
I hope the MLB forces Fisher to sell.
(It’ll never happen but a guy can hope) https://t.co/rHj7xozOrg
— Sean (@Sladek7) May 16, 2023
Exactly what happened to the Expos in their final years. I was barely alive when they left.
The A's fans that have stuck around through all of this must be absolutely heartbroken. I feel for them. https://t.co/wzlJWaokWt
— Jared Lackman-Mincoff (@JaredLM02) May 16, 2023
