San Jose A's?

[charlotte49er]

According to USA today, the move will be approved by February.

Philly to Kansas City to Oakland to San Jose. That beats the Braves (Boston, Milwaukee, Atlanta) now. LOL

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/24/report-the-athletics-could-be-granted-permission-to-move-to-san-jose-by-february/related/

[Montsta]

god I hope this comes to fruition. I've been an A's and Warriors season ticket holder for years, and I would love a move to SJ.

[ctrcat]

:(Though outrageously unlikely, they were one of only two teams, Tampa the other of course, that are even remotely likely to relocate to Charlotte due to stadium issues. Despite the lease in St Pete, hopefully Jerry Reese can hold out hope as long as possible so the stadium pressure and pathetic attendance force the Rays out of Tampa and into the heart of the Carolinas. Either that, or both leagues expand to 16 teams to even it out in the next decade.

The nearly 15 million people in the baseball hotbed of North and South Carolina deserve a major league team! I want MLB in the QC!!!

[charlotte49er]

:(Though outrageously unlikely, they were one of only two teams, Tampa the other of course, that are even remotely likely to relocate to Charlotte due to stadium issues. Despite the lease in St Pete, hopefully Jerry Reese can hold out hope as long as possible so the stadium pressure and pathetic attendance force the Rays out of Tampa and into the heart of the Carolinas. Either that, or both leagues expand to 16 teams to even it out in the next deca

The nearly 15 million people in the baseball hotbed of North and South Carolina deserve a major league team! I want MLB in the QC!!!

Jerry Reese needs to go away!

Charlotte doesn't even support the Bobcats, no way the greater Charlotte area would support MLB! WAY too many games to even for Charlotte to break even. Charlotte needs to wise up and bring the Knights back to Uptown!

Do what everyone else does once a season. Go to Alanta and catch a Braves game.

[ctrcat]

The problem with that argument is that every city has had attendance issues. Yankee Stadium is filled with empty seats behind home plate on a regular basis these days. Even iconic Wrigley Field has noted a drop in attendance. Tickets were even said to be plenty available in baseball mecca St. Louis during their historic postseason this year!

My question is how can Charlotte be so progressive on every other issue and go into a shell on this one? "Has been" cities such as Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Detroit, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland (who has lost 2/3 of it's population in the last 50 years and is now half the size of Charlotte), etc. support multiple professional teams (3 in Cleveland's case)+MLB. Charlotte has steamrolled these cities as a desirable place to live and over the next 50 years, the overall trend will no doubt continue.

Charlotte led the NBA in attendance for a decade. The Bobcats attendance issues have more to do with George Shinn, Bob Johnson, Pat McCrory, the Hornets name, David Stern, the NBA in general, and 7 losing seasons out of 8. The one playoff appearance produced a very good crowd despite not winning a game. Even with the Bobcats status quo, many would be surprised it does not fair too bad attendance wise compared with the rest of the NBA, especially when considering the product.

Atlanta is a #ellhole and I have no desire to go back, even once a year. I grew up a Cubs fan but thirst so bad not to pull for Chicago's team, but to watch big league ball in my beautiful city. Baseball doesn't generate buzz like it used to, but a 35K seat ballpark would be supported by natives and transplants alike. There is nothing else to do during the summer and the Knights just don't move the needle at all! There is absolutely zero emotional attachment and I dred not just my generation, but future generations will look back and say that we should have had a much grander vision for our city.

[Pinstriped_Panthers]

I'll admit - it would be pretty cool to see MLB in Charlotte - but I wonder if they could fill the stands.

[ctrcat]

I'll admit - it would be pretty cool to see MLB in Charlotte - but I wonder if they could fill the stands.

Again, nearly 15 million people in the Carolinas, and certainly one of the baseball hotbeds in this country. It will work!

[Pinstriped_Panthers]

Again, nearly 15 million people in the Carolinas, and certainly one of the baseball hotbeds in this country. It will work!

Would a team fit in Charlotte, or would it be better off somewhere in between the triangle and here? I guess CLT makes the most sense.

[ctrcat]

Would a team fit in Charlotte, or would it be better off somewhere in between the triangle and here? I guess CLT makes the most sense.

CLT. The Triad lost their chance in 1998 when they voted 67-33 not to have a mere 1% fast food tax in Guilford and Forsyth Counties to build a $200 million stadium for the Twins. Sad that if more people would have been willing to pay $1.00 instead of $.99 for a double cheeseburger, this state would have the Twins, a six time division winner in the last decade. Perhaps in the end though it will work to CLT's benefit if/when we do land a team. In addition, both Winston Salem and Greensboro have built brand new minor league parks recently. I think it could work, but at this point I just don't see it based on the above.

And lastly, CLT has a larger population and more corporate $, is on the border with SC, has a top 25 airport in the world, and will indeed continue to be on the WORLD stage in the near future with the DNC and what Cam Newton is about to do here.

Believe, don't give up, and it WILL happen someday. The Hornets, Panthers, and Hurricanes all appeared like distant pipe dreams at some point too. 20 years ago, what would you have told someone that said the Stanley Cup would reside in this state in your life?

[Montsta]

Well I'm already a die-hard Panthers fan so if my A's moved to Charlotte too I would move out of Cali. End of story.

[ctrcat]

This is NOT a done deal, and, what do you know, Charlotte mentioned as a possibility!!! http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/35098912

PLEASE, if you want MLB in Charlotte, contact city council immediately that NO public money is spent on minor league ball (with no tourist/corporate draw). There are 10 minor league teams already in a 275 mile radius, we need MLB!!!

[ctrcat]

Even the Los Angeles Times mentions CHARLOTTE as the first possibility if the A´s move!!!!! http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/la-sp-baseball-rumors-20120520,0,880813.story

[Proudiddy]

Man I was really hoping if we (NC) got a MLB team, that it would come to Raleigh... But, regardless, if it's in our state, that's my team, lol. And I have to admit, I've always kind of liked the A's for some reason even though I only casually follow baseball.

It's hard for me to pull for a another city to lose their team to our benefit, but that would be awesome to get an MLB team if they can't work it out.

This has to be a rough time for Oakland though... I just read the Warriors are officially moving to San Fran soon (although to my understanding, it's still extremely close to where they are in Oakland now - the Bay Area) and now the A's might be leaving Cali altogether?