Oakland sports are finally on the rise.
The A’s are division winners again, poised to challenge the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS and make a deep postseason run.
The Raiders are much further behind in their rebuilding, but certainly on the upswing. The Silver and Black have developed a young, dual-threat quarterback of the future in Terrelle Pryor.
Yet both franchises remain restrained by the O.co Coliseum.
Beyond its unbearable name and unsightly façade lies a much more concerning issue.
Long gone is the era of multipurpose sports stadiums, a problem highlighted this past weekend when the A’s hosted a playoff game the day before the Raiders were scheduled to host the Chargers.
Aside from the stadium’s inadequacies for both football and baseball, the logistical issues were equally troubling.
The Raiders, who are already dead last in average NFL attendance, likely suffered additionally attendance-wise because of the odd start time. On television, the game was pushed to the NFL Network.
The opportunity to collaborate with the 49ers for a stadium has passed with no consideration, and with no deal for the A’s to leave Oakland, two new venues are the only option.
But because of Oakland’s financial woes and lack of motivation, Raiders and A’s fans will be left in limbo for the indefinite future.
Reach the columnist at bmargiot@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @BenMargiott.
