Ballpark talks resume as Oakland A's try to stop City of Oakland's lawsuit

ByPhil Matier KGO logo
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Ballpark talks resume as the A's try to stop Oakland's lawsuit
Talks between the City of Oakland and the Oakland A's over a new ballpark resumed Wednesday, but without any agreement by the City to drop its lawsuit aimed at blocking the team from buying Alameda County's half-share of the Coliseum site.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Talks between the City of Oakland and the Oakland A's over a new ballpark resumed Wednesday, but without any agreement by the City to drop its lawsuit aimed at blocking the team from buying Alameda County's half-share of the Coliseum site.

The A's say they need a development deal at the 166-acre site that plays home to the A's and Raiders, if they are to privately finance their planned ballpark on the city's waterfront.

RELATED: Phil Matier breaks down Oakland Athletics' $85 million offer to city on Coliseum site

The A's countered by offering the city $85 million for its share of the site, but said the suit needs to be dropped by Nov. 15.

Key issues yet to be resolved include:

-Whether the A's would buy or have a long-term lease on the land

-Would the land would go back to the city if a ballpark is not built

-What community benefits would be included in the deal

-Whether the A's would agree to cover the costs of any potential lawsuits that might be filed by outside parties

-Whether the city could retain the right to bring back the suit