Oakland Athletics scrap Fremont stadium plans

[February 25, 2009]  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics have scrapped their plans to move to Fremont.

Team owner Lew Wolff told city officials in a letter Tuesday that the A's have stopped all plans to build a new stadium in the East Bay suburb, 20 miles south of the team's current home at the Oakland Coliseum.

In a separate statement, Wolff cited expected delays in the planning process as a reason for the decision.

Some local residents had opposed the Fremont plan, saying a $1.8 billion stadium and village would create traffic problems and drive down property values.

Supporters of the plan argued that it would help the local economy.

Wolff says he's still looking for a way to keep the team in Northern California but didn't specify where.

[Associated Press]

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