Why did Oakland lose all of its sports teams? (Newark: zoned, bars)

[Zenstyle]

This phenomenon is precisely why professional sports teams should be municipally owned, a là the Green Bay Packers.

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by UrbanQuest

Haha.

In reality, much of Oakland north of the 580 is decent to down right posh.

Even south of the 580 has some decent areas.

It’s way better than Newark, NJ, for example.

But the New York Giants have had attendance numbers near 80k per game since 2008.

[CorporateCowboy]

Originally Posted by UrbanQuest

In reality, much of Oakland north of the 580 is decent to down right posh.

Even south of the 580 has some decent areas.

It’s way better than Newark, NJ, for example.

‘Decent areas’ (or Newark, NJ) isn’t the issue. Oakland has half the population of SF and about twice the poverty rate; and combined, at the end of the day, it’s too small of a market for competing sports teams whereby SF has always dominated (locally and nationally).

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Zenstyle

This phenomenon is precisely why professional sports teams should be municipally owned, a là the Green Bay Packers.

That would be the demise of professional sports in some cities. Can you imagine if Oakland owned the A's what they would be like now? Granted, they can't get much worse.

Here in Seattle we lost the Sonics in 2008 largely due to a lack of interest by the City Council, who sold out the team and fans when they had a chance to reverse the sale and move to Oklahoma.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by CorporateCowboy

‘Decent areas’ (or Newark, NJ) isn’t the issue. Oakland has half the population of SF and about twice the poverty rate; and combined, at the end of the day, it’s too small of a market for competing sports teams whereby SF has always dominated (locally and nationally).

What does that even matter? Media/Sports markets extend well beyond city limits and metro area limits.

Up until PacBell was built the A's and Giants had similar attendance. Current ownership group drove the franchise into the ground.

[CorporateCowboy]

Originally Posted by sav858

What does that even matter? Media/Sports markets extend well beyond city limits and metro area limits.

Hence my point SF has dominated nationally as well.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by CorporateCowboy

Hence my point SF has dominated nationally as well.

That's really not a big part of their reach and is primarily tied to winning championships recently.

[considerforamoment]

With everything that's going on in Oakland right now, all of the teams apparently had good foresight to get out.

[mattja]

I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the young people coming up and recent immigrants are mostly Latino, and soccer is their #1 game.

But what's the point of having a soccer team in Oakland if a good portion of residents will root for their home team in Mexico and Central America?

[Rakin]

So have they turned over all the stadiums to the homeless?

Seems like a great place to pitch a tent with all the land and public restrooms available.