Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 | 2 a.m.
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You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression — just look at the Vegas Golden Knights’ upward trajectory to the Stanley Cup in their early years.
This is precisely why the A’s should opt for temporary ballparks closer to home — and not in front of their future home fans — until 2028, when their stadium in Las Vegas opens.
In 2023, the Oakland A’s lost 69% of their games. Their general manager, David Forst, has told reporters that the club is willing to increase spending in free agency. And while few expected the A’s to sign Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency, they’ve had a slow winter. (To be fair, the short-term stadium limbo probably hasn’t helped.)
I want the future Las Vegas club to succeed. It doesn’t need gimmicks such as the orange baseballs proposed by former A’s owner Charlie Finley. Or casino themes like lavish buffets in the stands and money drops after wins. The simplest way to fans’ hearts is plain old winning — and unless things change it may be a very gradual process.
