Philadelphia Phillies Star Harper Doesn't Hold Back On Athletics' Move to Las Vegas

Philadelphia Phillies superstar and Las Vegas native Bryce Harper gives his honest thoughts on the Oakland Athletics moving to Las Vegas.

Kade Kistner | Jun 15, 2023

Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Who better to talk about the Oakland Athletics making the move to Las Vegas than an MLB superstar who is a native of Sin City?

Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper opened up about the subject to the media and what he thinks of the Athletics making the move to his home town.

Speaking with USA Today, Harper didn't hold back on the subject.

“I feel sorry for the fans in Oakland,’’ Harper said. “It’s just not right. They have so much history in Oakland. You’re taking a team out of a city. I’m pretty sad because of all of the history and all of the greatness they’ve seen there.

“I see the A’s as Oakland.

“I don’t see them as Vegas.’’

It's a sore subject for a lot of Oakland fans who have spent so much time supporting a team, that in recent memory, hasn't done the same.

It's been a not so secret cash grab for Athletics owner John Fisher.

The move to Las Vegas is the same thing.

It's not getting past anyone.

As for attendance, well, Oakland fans turned up in masses on Tuesday night in a reverse protest to show ownership that there is indeed an active and passionate fanbase.

They just have to be treated with dignity and given a watchable and fieldable to for there to be interaction.

Respect is a two-way street. Athletics fans want to the team to stay in Oakland. Even superstars and Las Vegas natives like Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott want them to remain in California.

The Athletics ownership just sees it as another money grab.

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Published Jun 15, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.