Who Owns the Oakland A's and Why is he so Hated?

By Oliver Wiener June 07, 2024 06:52

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

There are a ton of issues surrounding the Oakland Athletics and their ownership and their move proposal to Las Vegas despite the team boasting one of the greatest histories and icons in the history of Major League Baseball.

So, Together with Fan Arch, let's get to the specifics on the owner, and why fans hate him with a passion.

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John Fisher, The Controversial Owner

Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher is at the forefront of the controversy.

While Fisher is reportedly worth more than $3 billion and is the scion of the Gap clothing chain fortune, his leadership, and prospective plans for the team have drawn criticism.

The Relocation Saga

The proposed move of the Athletics to Las Vegas has angered A's fans and the Oakland community.

The teachers union in Nevada has led the pushback on the move and a legal battle ensued before it could take place, predicated on the terms that it must be conducted no earlier than the 2028 season.

Politicians who are getting support from the Arizona Educators United, a political action committee linked with the teachers' union are also working to fight the public financing of the new stadium.

Fisher's Vision & Fan Discontent

Fisher wants to take the franchise somewhere else, which has sparked fury from fans and city officials in Oakland.

The move, in theory, is simply a geographical change, but also represents much more than that: a bid to reinvent themselves, and severely disenfranchise its biggest supporters.

Many die-hard fans have a bad taste in their mouth after the decision to leave the home they called home for 57 years.

Poor Negotiations

Fisher's place as one of the least popular owners in the game is largely tied to the Rockets' perennial status with one of the smallest payrolls in the sport.

The A's last year had the smallest payroll in the sport, at just over $57 million on Opening Day. While Fisher is a BILLIONAIRE, he still refuses to spend any money on good players, and just lets the team rot.

The Fallout

There have been large ramifications of Fisher's decisions, and they are making signs asking him to sell the team all around the ballpark.

Compounding the matter is a murky plan of how and when Oakland would even construct a new stadium, fostering a feeling of betrayal from loyal fans who have stood by the team through thick and thin.

Commissioner's Role

The role of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in this saga has also come into question.

His endorsement of the move and failure to intervene on the team's behalf might have some questioning the commitment of Major League Baseball to preserving the integrity and history of the Oakland A's.

Looking Ahead

What happens to the team, you may now wonder as the drama continues.

The potential Las Vegas move, the murky legality of it all, and the popular revolt make for quite a tangled web.

What will become of the A's, the city's fans, and the potential effects of Fisher's choices, remains a prevailing question.

The situation in Oakland and the fate of the Athletics, combined with the threat of relocation to Nevada, are well real and for this time we, as fans, and even as members of the greater baseball society, are digging in the trenches to protect what we have from corporate greed.

Both the moves and non-moves of Fisher brought even more tension around the team, as the actions of Fisher, coupled with the owner's low payroll have made it hard to watch.