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Mayor Sheng Thao requested and was granted a
meeting with Manfred prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star
Game in Seattle, according to reports.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Thao presented Manfred 30
bound copies of a report she wanted all MLB team owners to see,
detailing negotiations between the city of Oakland and the A's,
including a detailed timeline. Thao wanted a complete outline on
the failed Oakland negotiations to be shared before owners voted
on whether to approve the Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas.
"I did feel it was important to meet with the commissioner in
person, given the importance of this upcoming vote by the
relocation committee," Thao told the Chronicle. "This decision
isn't just about business. How they vote will have a lasting
impact on a multi-generational fan base of working families who
love this game of baseball and have a deep connection to the
Oakland A's. Before undertaking this very consequential vote, I
wanted the commissioner and the MLB owners on the relocation
committee, and all the owners, to have the true facts, so they
can make an informed decision. I continue to fight until the
shovel is actually in the dirt."
Thao said Manfred's comments and other public sentiment chiding
Oakland for not having a stadium proposal at hand were "false."
She said the relocation proposal could be voted down by owners,
and Oakland would be ready to move forward with plans to keep
the team. Las Vegas would then likely be in play as an expansion
team. Manfred said the league will begin discussing possible
expansion from 30 teams to 32.
"In my mind, there's a scenario where there's no losers at all,
there's just winners all around, and it's something we can look
to and say we all worked together to actually achieve," Thao
told the Chronicle. "MLB has not moved a team in the last 50
years or so. It was important to me to fly to Seattle and show,
look, we have a proposal, let's take a deeper dive into this."
--Field Level Media
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