Breaking News: MLB Top Man slam ‘incompetent’ Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher over relocation saga

In November 2023, Major League Baseball granted approval for the Oakland Athletics to move to Las Vegas by 2028. However, amidst increasing uncertainty surrounding the team’s future in both Las Vegas and Oakland, owner John Fisher is facing criticism.

When Fisher obtained approval from all 30 MLB owners to relocate to Las Vegas, there was an expectation for him to present a clear plan for the move, including specifics on timing and interim stadium arrangements. Unfortunately, the relocation process has been marred by setbacks. The deadline for submitting stadium designs and financing plans for the new ballpark in Las Vegas passed in January, leaving the team without a home stadium after the 2024 season, as their lease for the Coliseum in Oakland is set to expire.

As deadlines come and go without Fisher providing definitive answers, MLB executives, including Commissioner Rob Manfred, are growing increasingly frustrated with the prolonged process. Prominent figures in the sport, such as ESPN’s Jeff Passan, have openly criticized Fisher for the ongoing debacle, questioning the competence of the Athletics’ leadership and expressing doubts about the viability of the move to Las Vegas.

Despite Manfred previously defending Fisher by stating that the Athletics had no feasible path to a new stadium in Oakland, even he has voiced public frustration in recent weeks over the continued uncertainty. The poor attendance figures from the previous season, combined with vocal criticism from insiders like Passan, indicate that MLB’s patience with the organization may be wearing thin.