Before entering into an agreement to negotiate exclusively with the A’s on a new ballpark at the Coliseum site, Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf received a last-minute development offer from another professional sports team owner.
Walnut Creek developer Mark Hall, who owns an East Bay franchise in the second division United Soccer League, sent a letter to Schaaf, urging her to “consider an alternative approach” that would include a new 15,000-18,000 seat soccer stadium and other facilities for youth sports.
USL East Bay owner Mark D. Hall submits an offer letter to Oakland Mayor and City Council describing a multi-stadium project for professional baseball, professional soccer and youth sports at the Oakland Coliseum Complex. pic.twitter.com/fPGvraUCry
— USL2EastBay (@USL2EastBay) March 29, 2018
Hall’s proposal obviously wasn’t enticing enough for Schaaf, who Wednesday signed an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with the A’s for both the Coliseum site and the Howard Terminal site, places the A’s are considering building their desired, privately financed ballpark. The ENA at the Coliseum must be approved by the Oakland City Council, and the Port of Oakland commissioners must sign off on the Howard Terminal agreement.
Nearly two months ago, Hall proposed the building of a soccer stadium in Walnut Creek near the downtown BART station. That ambitious proposal by Hall Sports Ventures included a 24,000-seat venue for concerts or events, two hotels, a convention center, retail space and housing.
Hall recently met with A’s president Dave Kaval and Scott McKibben executive director of the Coliseum Authority and his bid to get in on the deal included a desire to purchase Oracle Arena and up to 44 acres on the 120-acre Coliseum grounds. Considering the A’s also own the San Jose Earthquakes of the Major Soccer League, it’s understandable why they might not want to deal with another soccer franchise.
In addition, since the A’s are committing to finance the project with little to no financial assistance from the city and county, the team’s bid to purchase the Coliseum land would enable it to develop its own ideal ballpark and surrounding area.