Stadium Central

First the Tampa Bay Rays plans for an iconic waterfront stadium fell through. Now, the plans for the Oakland A's to open a stadium in Fremont, CA appear to have undergone a similar collapse. On February 24, the A's announced that they would cease efforts to move the city 20 miles south of their current location to the planned Cisco Field because of opposition within the city. Plans for the stadium included a Stadium Village surrounding it with residential and commercial development. There are no immediate plans to seek a new site, but it is apparent that the A's are at a significant disadvantage playing at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (yes, the stadium has reverted to that name after the naming rights deal with Network Associates expired in 2008). The stadium is best for football, even though it really doesn't work so great for that sport either. The cavernous park with much of its upper deck seating blocked off does not present the intimate environment characteristic of many baseball stadiums and which would have been a hallmark of Cisco Field.

One article suggests that San Jose may be the last chance for the A's to find a location in the Bay Area, but Major League Baseball will need to modify the arrangement that states that Santa Clara County lies in the territory of the San Francisco Giants.

The University of Washington Board of Regents gave out some images of the proposed renovations to Husky Stadium. The designs show that the field is to be lowered to allow the seats to go straight to field level. The track around the field would be removed. The horseshoe stands would be renovated and luxury suites and a football field house would be added to that end zone.