Major League Baseball

Rob Manfred discusses A's stadium situation in visit to Oakland

Published Jun. 21, 2015 1:24 p.m. ET

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On Friday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred paid a visit to O.co Coliseum to meet with the gathered media. There, he dedicated some of his press conference to the Oakland Athletics' need for a new facility as well as their long-term viability in Oakland. 

As John Hickey of Inside the A's recapped, one of Manfred's key points was that the A's need a baseball-only stadium at their current site, the Coliseum/Arena facility. Said Manfred (as quoted by Hickey): “On stadium efforts our most important principle is to never lose sight of that fact that stadiums are a peculiarly local issue. It’s Lew Wolff, John Fisher, Mike Crowley that know best where the best location for the best facility is, what’s a viable stadium plan. I think that the A’s folks have been pretty clear that they think the Coliseum site is the best site for a stadium in Oakland.’’

However, Manfred also admitted that it would be 'extremely difficult if not impossible' to have two separate facilities on the current Oakland site (such as an A's stadium and a new Oakland Raiders facility). 

Manfred also all but ruled out any future move for the A's to San Jose, since that issue has been held up in court litigation: “I’ve said publicly I think it is absolutely vital to the long term health of this organization that the A’s get a new facility. It remains my goal and part of baseball’s long-standing policy that we try to get that stadium built here in Oakland where the A’s have their fan base."

Here's some video from Manfred's press conference:

For all intents and purposes, this was the first time Manfred has dedicated a block of time to discussing the A's future since taking over for Bud Selig as commissioner, and it will be interesting to see what kind of progress - if any - will happen now that he's in charge. 

(h/t Inside the A's)

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