(Photo via Oakland A’s)
By JANIE McCAULEY
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The Oakland Athletics have found a location for their modern new ballpark, announcing plans to build near Jack London Square along the water.
Team President Dave Kaval had hoped to finalize a site by the end of the year, and the A’s made the announcement Wednesday they had settled on the Howard Terminal site. The team’s new downtown offices will have a view of the project, including right from Kaval’s large corner window.
The club, coming off its first playoff berth since 2014, had to switch gears after a proposed plan at Laney College fell through last December.
In addition, the A’s intend to redevelop the site around the aging, rundown Oakland Coliseum they have long shared with the NFL’S Oakland Raiders, who plan their own move to Las Vegas.
Kaval says the A’s will build a “bold, iconic ballpark” and the “design will allow us to blur the boundaries of a traditional ballpark and integrate into the surrounding neighborhood.”
? here it is: our plan to build a new ballpark at Howard Terminal.https://t.co/vLuiX01aT0#RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/HtI7zEhrfV
— Oakland Athletics ??⚾️ (@Athletics) November 28, 2018
The ballpark at Howard Terminal returns the baseball experience to the roots of the sport, while reimagining the ballpark anew. A “ballpark within a park,” the intimate stadium is nestled carefully into its urban surroundings. https://t.co/vLuiX01aT0#RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/ZjTXknlU1A
— Oakland Athletics ??⚾️ (@Athletics) November 28, 2018
“We are excited to build a bold, iconic ballpark at Howard Terminal. This design will allow us to blur the boundaries of a traditional ballpark and integrate into the surrounding neighborhood.” – @DaveKaval https://t.co/vLuiX01aT0#RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/g46FK7N2ny
— Oakland Athletics ??⚾️ (@Athletics) November 28, 2018
“This is bigger than baseball” and will keep the A’s in #Oakland “forever,” says #Athletics president Dave Kaval, of planned “jewel box ballpark” with rooftop park pic.twitter.com/nX86onJ8fu
— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) November 28, 2018
The privately financed ballpark will anchor a new, vibrant, waterfront district that will feature housing, including affordable housing, restaurants, retail, small business space, and public gathering spaces. https://t.co/vLuiX01aT0#RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/xA4KS8F4x4
— Oakland Athletics ??⚾️ (@Athletics) November 28, 2018
We also plan to pursue a second project to redevelop the Coliseum site. There, we seek to transform the current site in ways that will address several specific community needs and opportunities expressed by East Oakland residents. https://t.co/vLuiX01aT0 #RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/qyAaffvR2F
— Oakland Athletics ??⚾️ (@Athletics) November 28, 2018
Preliminary plans include a large park, surrounded by substantial new housing, including affordable housing, a skills center, community gathering space, office and retail developments, and restaurants. https://t.co/vLuiX01aT0#RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/aCe5dfOYBS
— Oakland Athletics ??⚾️ (@Athletics) November 28, 2018
The new park will be anchored by the two focal points of Oakland sports history: Oracle Arena, repurposed as a concert and cultural events center; and the original Coliseum baseball diamond, preserved to inspire the next generation of ballplayers. https://t.co/vLuiX01aT0 pic.twitter.com/QuYThO6nhG
— Oakland Athletics ??⚾️ (@Athletics) November 28, 2018
“We are also committed to delivering a baseball experience for our fans like no other. Our proposed two-project approach will enable us to deliver on our promises to both our fans and community.” – @DaveKaval. For more information, visit https://t.co/vLuiX01aT0#RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/HSqZX7DlH8
— Oakland Athletics ??⚾️ (@Athletics) November 28, 2018