Stadiums are considered the "home" of a particular baseball team. The surrounding city further aligns itself with a particular team, making the idea of a new stadium in the area seem like a slap to the traditions of the currently residing team. Fans enjoy the feeling of being in the team's home stadium, and home city. Home games instill a sense of pride, come with unique traditions, and increase the fans faith that their team can win. The A's search for a new location seems primarily a business move, yet the obstacles preventing this new "home" seem largely based on tradition. There is however, the economical and business issues in rising a new stadium. Although with time new fans could become accustomed to a new team and stadium, it would take years to build such a new tradition. As Neyer points out, even if there is no strong territorial claim by a particular team, there are certain areas where a baseball stadiums would simply not be lucrative or successful, as in Portland or Las Vegas.
Roth's Great American Novel displays the similar struggles that the Rupert Mundays face in not having a home stadium. Because their stadium was taken to use in the war effort, the Mundays struggle with identity as who they are as a team. No matter how statistically good a team may be, there is still some necessity to the traditional aspect of their own stadium, the need for The Game not just the game.
Like the Mundays, the A's desire to revolutionize their team in the traditional and business aspect is exhibited in their quest for a new stadium. The current out of date and run down stadium in Oakland will no longer suffice as a traditional home or beneficial business location.
I don't really understand the appeal for a team to move staduims, let alone cities. Although it has happened before, I cant seem to grasp how such a business move would be lucrative. Does the team management just expect the citezins of the next city to become A's fans? I know that for many, the team they root for is a personal matter, and although for some it is a mere convenience, it will undoubtedly take a while for the A's to catch on in a new city. That being said, I'm interested to see where the As will end up and how their fan base will react/ grow because of this move.
ReplyDeleteI liked you article, Kenzie. I think it's a good point that building a new tradition takes years and a lot of our baseball fandom comes as a result of tradition - of parents passing down their favorite teams to their kids. That's how I became a Red Sox fan. Also, I think it's pretty relevant that Fenway Park was just added to the National Registry of Historic Places. It goes to show just how long it takes to fully develop a true baseball history and tradition.
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