Timeline: A's Attempts To Relocate From Oakland Coliseum
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in federal court, the City of San Jose said Major League Baseball has been dragging its feet in having owners vote on the A's proposed move to San Jose. The lawsuit says MLB has controlled the location of teams under the "guise" of an exemption to federal antitrust law. The lawsuit is disputing that exemption. The San Francisco Giants have objected to the A's potential move on grounds they relied on territorial rights to the San Jose-area market when the Giants built their ballpark. The A's say those rights were only meant to support the Giants' failed efforts in the early 1990s to build a San Jose-area ballpark themselves. Here is a look at efforts to relocate the team since the Oakland Raiders returned to the city in 1996 and installed the infamous Mount Davis center field seats to host more football fans at the Oakland Coliseum.
- 2000 The A's begin initial discussion with Major League Baseball about moving the team to the South Bay.
- 2002 Ownership discusses possibility of a downtown Oakland stadium near City Hall.
- 2003 Lew Wolff takes over search for new Oakland Athletics stadium.
- 2004 Team explores possibility of building a stadium at the current site on top of the existing north parking lot.
- 2005 Wolff, now the team's owner, throws support behind a new Oakland stadium project.
- 2006 Team announces intent to move to Fremont, allowing them proximity to the South Bay while not infringing on the San Francisco Giants' territorial rights.
- 2009 A's abandon plans to move to Fremont amid complications with the possible build site and switch target to downtown San Jose. Commissioner Bud Selig forms a committee to explore the feasibility of the San Jose move.
- 2010 funding problems with San Jose redevelopment agency threaten land purchase for proposed build site. Mayor Chuck Reed and Wolff vow to continue working to make Cisco Field, adjacent to the San Jose Sharks Arena, a reality.
- 2012 A's push for commission decision and ownership vote on South Bay move;. Officials signal willingness to explore antitrust exemption lawsuit. Commissioner Selig makes comments viewed unfavorable to hopes for San Jose move.
- 2013 Wolff tells KPIX 5's Dennis O'Donnell that San Jose is the only realistic option remaining for a new A's Stadium in the Bay Area.
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