The City of Oakland is suing the Raiders for an "illegal move" to Las Vegas. The Golden State Warriors are leaving and building a brand new arena in nearby San Francisco. The only hope for the city is to keep the MLB's Oakland Athletics, and one NFL star is helping make sure that happens.
When it comes to the Bay Area, nobody is more rooted in Oakland than five-time Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch. That's where he's from, where he grew up and went to high school, and where he plays football these days. The 5-foot-11, 215-pounder isn't about to let every professional sports team leave his city and so he decided to show up to an Oakland City Council meeting to give some advice.
The reason why Lynch was there Wednesday night is simple: The A's plan to build a new ballpark at Howard Terminal and it needs all the support it can get.
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Lynch, who wore a hooded sweatshirt, backpack, and sandals to the metting, is usually a man of few words, but his voice in Oakland should hold plenty of weight.
"We're losing the Warriors. We're losing the Raiders. Best not lose the A's. Appreciate it." — Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lych
If the City of Oakland wants to keep a profession team around, then everyone should take Lynch's advice, especially when the proposed new A's ballpark project looks this incredible.
Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the Howard Terminal project is a privately financed new stadium and would take the Major League Baseball experience to a new level in Oakland.
"To create the most intimate experience in baseball, plans call for a total capacity of around 34,000 - including fixed seats and general admission experience areas - to be arranged in the closest configuration possible to home plate, along with an elevated park that wraps and frames the bowl, coming down to meet the waterfront," the plan reads. "The square block of the ballpark district will sit neatly within the extended urban fabric of Oakland, transforming the ballpark's concourses into street, and concessions into restaurants. Diverse programming embedded within and around the ballpark will ensure the ballpark, and the park that sits atop it, are active on game days and non-game days alike."
As for the Oakland Coliseum, where the Raiders and A's currently play, there are plans to transform that into a place for the community.
It seems like a win for all parties. Hopefully Lynch's presence helps move this project right along.
