SAN FRANCISCO _ The commissioner of major league baseball said Monday night he hopes news of an A's stadium project will become public within the next year.
"Right now, the A's ownership is engaged in an analysis on multiple sites in Oakland," Rob Manfred said at a news conference before Game 3 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park. "I hope the first piece of news will be a decision as to which site will be the focus of their effort to get their plan and finances together."
The current site of the Coliseum, as well as Howard Terminal have been mentioned as possible sites for an A's stadium. Manfred said other sites are also in consideration by A's ownership.
Manfred addressed the difficulties of getting a stadium deal in Oakland with the Raiders currently on the same site.
"It is a complicated situation because of the obvious governmental limitations, and then you lay on the fact that you have a football team and a baseball team who desperately need new facilities, and then you lay on top of that the fact that they play in the same facility right now, they need to work out the logistics of that," Manfred said.
Manfred said he has spent more time with A's, not only with Lew Wolff but co-owner John Fisher, than with any other team since he became commissioner two years ago.
The commissioner said he also spoke with Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf, who "seems very committed to the idea of keeping baseball in Oakland and that's a huge positive."
Manfred stressed a stadium project in Oakland would be organically driven.
"We will stay engaged with the A's. We will not have someone here full time on the ground," Manfred said. "The A's project is one that will involve a very substantial commitment from local ownership and a result of that, it has to be a locally driven project. They need to find a project they think works for them and they need to push that project forward."
The Raiders are committed to pursuing a commitment to building a stadium in Las Vegas if they can secure $750 million in public funding. Nevada lawmakers are currently in a special session to discuss the economic impact of building a stadium for the Raiders.
Previously Raiders owner Mark Davis had supported the idea of building a stadium the present site, but was unable to come to a suitable plan with the city of Oakland and Alameda County.
A proposed project along with the San Diego Chargers in Carson, Nev., fell through when NFL owners opted for a plan by the Rams' Stan Kroenke. The Raiders have an option to join the Rams in the new stadium if the Chargers secure funding to stay in San Diego.
The Raiders are in Oakland this season after signing a three-year lease extension which the club can opt out of after each of the first two seasons.
