The Oakland A’s are considering relocation without new stadium

After more than a decade of trying to get a new stadium in the Bay Area, the Oakland Athletics are looking into relocation with MLB’s blessing.

It appears the Oakland A’s might be renting a few U-Haul vans in the coming years.

On Tuesday afternoon, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the team is looking into relocation after efforts to build a privately-funded stadium haven’t gone well. While the A’s are still trying to lock up the Howard Terminal location for a waterfront stadium in Oakland, the franchise has begun thinking about alternative options.

Passan also notes that should the A’s leave Oakland, where they moved to in 1968 from Kansas City, Las Vegas is the leading options. Other cities in the mix include Charlotte and Portland.

The Oakland A’s are considering a move out of the Bay Area

After winning three consecutive World Series from 1972-74, the team fell on hard times amidst declining attendance due to cheap ownership during the infancy of free agency. In the late ’80s, the A’s enjoyed a resurgence with Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco leading the way, with Oakland reaching another trio of World Series from 1988-90, winning it all in 1989.

However, Oakland has won only two playoff series since 1990, including last year’s Wild Card round victory over the Chicago White Sox. The A’s have reached the playoffs each of the past three seasons and 11 times total under team president Billy Beane, who has been enormously successful over the past two decades considering their financial constraints.

Unfortunately, it might not be enough to save the A’s in Oakland, who have not gotten state or citywide support to keep the team in town. This despite the Raiders and Golden State Warriors both leaving in the last few years.