Former A’s Owner Haas: ‘Unforgivable’ for John Fisher to Relocate Team to Las Vegas

Adam WellsSeptember 12, 2024

Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images

As the Oakland Athletics prepare for their final weeks in the city they have called home for 56 years, former owner Wally Haas has spoken out against John Fisher’s decision to move the franchise.

Speaking to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, Haas called it “unforgivable” and “indefensible” what Fisher has done with the club:

“I think what makes it so difficult for me and obviously a lot of others to watch is the fact that, unlike my father being the last hope at the time in Oakland, it sure sounds like John has had a number of groups—I know that he has—approach him to buy the team and keep it here, one in particular, which was pretty public and certainly viable, is, of course, Joe Lacob and his group.

“Here’s a group that checked all the boxes already. He’s proven he can build a privately funded facility in modern times here in Northern California. He had championship aspirations and results and, as importantly, would have made John a much more substantial profit on his investment than he or his father (Don) had contemplated when they decided to buy the team. And for those reasons, I think John’s decision to move the team is frankly unforgivable.”

The Haas family owned the A’s from 1980 to ’95 after purchasing the franchise from Charley Finley. Fisher became the majority owner of the club in 2005 with his business partner Lewis Wolff.

Wolff sold his share of the franchise in November 2016, making Fisher the sole owner and managing partner.

When the A’s were looking at stadium options in 2015, Wolff said they were “not looking” at venues outside of the Bay Area. They ultimately signed a 10-year lease to remain at the Coliseum through the 2024 season.

Representatives from Oakland and the Athletics spent years negotiating for a new waterfront ballpark in the Bay Area, but the city ultimately withdrew from those talks in April 2023 with Fisher and the organization accused of acting in bad faith amid rumors they were trying to use Oakland only as leverage for a better deal from Las Vegas.

The A’s announced on April 4 they will be moving to Vegas for the 2028 MLB season. The club will spend the next three years playing home games in Sacramento at Sutter Health Park—home of their Triple-A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League.

A new stadium in Las Vegas hasn’t been officially approved, but Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, recently expressed optimism a deal would be done on Dec. 5.

The Athletics’ hope is the new stadium in Vegas will be ready in time for the 2028 season. If it’s not, the club has an option to play that season in Sacramento.

Under Fisher’s ownership, the A’s have made the playoffs seven times and finished last in the division six times.