OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics say their attempt to relocate some 40 miles away to San Jose is not “a move that seeks to alter or in any manner disturb MLB territorial rights.”
The A’s released a statement Wednesday saying they hope Commissioner Bud Selig, his committee on the Bay Area issue and a vote of baseball’s owners will allow the club to leave its current venue in the aging Oakland Coliseum and build a new ballpark in technology-rich Silicon Valley — even though the San Francisco Giants hold territorial rights to the area.
The A’s said being allowed to move “will enable us to join the fine array of modern and fun baseball parks that are now commonplace in Major League Baseball.”
At the January owners meetings, Selig said the situation was on the “front burner.” He appointed a committee in March 2009 to evaluate the issue.
