This may create more confusion than clarity in this battle over the A's. The team and officials in the South Bay say San Jose is still very much in play. But it appears Oakland's Mayor Jean Quan wants to play hardball with A's owner Lew Wolff.
"I think the bottom line is we want a commitment to build in Oakland," Quan said.
The momentum may have shifted in Oakland's favor in the battle to keep the A's right where they are.
Rather than its current two-year commitment, the team confirms it now wants to sign a new 10-year lease to play in the O.co Coliseum.
Quan says she wants something from Wolff and the A's ownership in return.
"The J.P., the Joint Powers Authority between the city and the county will be talking to him about a lease extension, but I think what we all agree those of us in elected leadership, that an extension should be tied to them deciding where they want a new stadium," Quan said.
"My understanding of the deal would be a 5-year lease and then another 5-year option," Joint Powers Authority board member Chris Dobbins said. Dobbins sits on the board of the Oakland/Alameda County Joint Powers Coliseum Authority.
"I believe that he probably still wants to go to San Jose, but I also think his options are being limited and the fact that they haven't been able to move down there. He's been trying to fight this since he bought the team. They haven't been able to get down there and I think he's looking at long-term options," Dobbins said.
"I think that would definitely set the ground, set the groundwork for them to stay," A's fan Adrian Jones said.
It sounds good for Oakland, but a team source tells ABC7 News, Wolff and the A's ownership still believe their best option is a new stadium in San Jose.
Attorney Phil Gregory represents the city of San Jose in its lawsuit against Major League Baseball.
"We believe that the A's remain committed to San Jose and that there's been pressure being put on the A's by Major League Baseball to sign a lease extension with the city of Oakland.
One concern for the Coliseum Authority is that a long term lease with the A's might compromise it's already tenuous relationship with the Raiders, who share the stadium and currently have a one year lease.
