The team formerly known as the Oakland Athletics and soon to be known as the Las Vegas Athletics is currently dealing with a rather unhappy fanbase, so much so that one dispute played out on the team’s own broadcast.
Before the A’s game against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, one fan stood behind the pregame show set wearing a bright green T-shirt with a single word printed on the chest: “SELL.”
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It wasn’t long before a security guard at West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park came down to confront the fan. And it wasn’t long before he was joined by two more guards and a pair of white polo-wearing employees. This all played out while the A’s TV hosts were discussing a team that entered Thursday in last place in the AL West.
The fan later identified himself as Joe Horton on social media, and revealed he was allowed to stay in his seat after the chat with security. His primary reaction when they first approached him: “You know this too is on TV right?“
There are a lot of people not happy with the Athletics, and not just the population of Oakland. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Ezra Shaw via Getty Images)
The A’s organization remains in an awkward position and will continue to do so for at least a couple years. Hurt feelings abound from their move out of Oakland, but their new home in Las Vegas won’t be ready until 2028 at the earliest. Until then, they’ll be playing at a minor-league ballpark in West Sacramento.
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It’s a situation bad enough that many fans want A’s owner John Fisher out of the league. There are no indications he wishes to do so.
Despite their struggles and fan backlash, the A’s went on to beat the Twins 14-3 on Thursday, their highest-scoring game of the season. Young players Max Muncy, Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom (twice) all homered, with Soderstrom providing the exclamation point with a grand slam in the fourth inning.
