A's missed huge opportunity with Super Bowl week in Las Vegas

Instead of making progress in selling their Vegas vision, the A's stayed silent

The biggest sporting event of the year, the Super Bowl, was held in the place that the Oakland A's hope to call home by 2028, and they had a tremendous opportunity to show the world that they are ready for this move. 

Instead, they made not a peep. There were no whispers of funding coming through or newfound excitement in Las Vegas for their arrival. No pretty ballpark pictures. Nada. 

The biggest story that came out of Vegas was the mayor saying that the A's should stay in Oakland, before later releasing a statement that began "I want to be clear that I am excited about the prospect of Major League Baseball in Las Vegas and it may be that the Las Vegas A's will become a reality that we will welcome to our city." This has been touted as a walk back of her original statement, but it really sounds like the mayor would prefer a baseball team in Vegas, and if it has to be the A's, then sure. 

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, when asked about the mayor's comments, said he thought that they canceled each other out. He'd be wrong. She doubled down, just politely. 

Manfred also said he'd be "disappointed" if the A's ballpark wasn't ready to go in Vegas by Opening Day 2028, which is the first hint that his patience may be wearing thin with the A's relocation process. When asked a couple of weeks ago at the infamous Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce event if the A's ballpark will open in 2028, Fisher said, "we hope so." That is not an answer that instills confidence. 

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao also spoke with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who is taking more of an interest in the relocation process over the past couple of weeks. For those keeping score at home, that's one of the top national baseball writers, the mayor of Vegas, and the commissioner of baseball each casting some doubt on the A's potential move in their own way. 

Instead of making a strong stand and planting their flag in Las Vegas with the media attention that comes with the Super Bowl, the A's relocation is looking more questionable than ever.