Talking Oakland A’s Potential Relocation with David P. Samson

Since the heat turned up on the A's Relocation Saga, so many people have sent me clips of David P. Samson's commentary. Many others have asked us to collaborate on an interview. So here it is!
And I know A LOT of you are doing so already, but don't forget to subscribe to David's show NOTHING PERSONAL here: ‪@NPDS‬
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[@sacramentofoodforest]

Samsons show is so underrated. This dude keeps it 100% about all the shady shit that owners in sports do

[@markjwolfson]

As a former Major League Baseball television production executive for 33 years (including the A’s), I have to tell you how much I enjoy “Nothing Personal. Your experience and erudition make for compelling content.

[@radio_bassment8681]

It's incredible!

[@smokey5100]

Definitely

[@rainbowmade1880]

Well put!! I agree his show is top notch.

[@sacpike]

Samson is a real one.

[@smokey5100]

Excellent work Casey and thanks to Mr. Samson for helping shine a light on what needs to be done to keep the A's here in the East Bay. He's absolutely right about the stadium at Howard Terminal being potentially way more profitable for the team. I hope the Commissioner & Mayor Thao are able to get together and discuss the project because I definitely feel that we are further along in the project than Vegas and this IS the right move for baseball.

[@mikepuncsak7297]

Now this was a great video !!!! David Sampson,Casey Pratt..thank you both!!!

[@DonyellFreak]

Been waiting all day for this collaboration

[@joshuadesautels]

I had been wondering who was going on whose show. You guys should talk to Brodie. He was saying that if it got to the owners, it was over. 0:47 Back in Oakland.

[@joeblenkle5546]

I hope MLB listens to this guy. He brought up some excellent points as to why this Vegas deal is doomed to failure.

[@andrewasher1859]

Oakland is a total failure Vegas cannot be worst!

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

​@andrewasher1859 Oakland gave us Moneyball and all of the 2nd Era and 3rd Era statistics associated with it. Oakland also made the playoffs back in '18 & '19 and might've made a better splash if they finish behind the Astros. I wouldn't say it's been a failure in Oakland the last 20 years, much less the last 50.

[@Andrew-he1by]

@@HHSGDFootballJPD Oakland is a total failure when you're minor league affiliate consistently out drawers you by thousands

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

Yeah; the A's situation now is really bad. But the A's were outdrawing their minor league team back in '18 & '19, and probably most years before that.

[@Andrew-he1by]

@@HHSGDFootballJPD that's ridiculous comparing a major-league to minor league team is like apples to oranges

[@aaronblaylock2092]

After watching the World Baseball championship, I was so pumped for the season but this whole moving to Vegas thing really threw a wrench into it ..

[@chrisweidner4768]

I see David, I click. His, “Nothing Personal,” is the Only sports podcast I never miss.

[@Old_Foxy_Grandpa]

Dave said one thing that is perhaps his most important comment and it comes directly from the basic rules of statesmanship. Negotiate in private Announce agreements in public. Excellent comments. I want to hear from this guy again.

[@Old_Foxy_Grandpa]

By the way, Tom Hanks went to Skyline High.

[@edwardscissorhands4007]

Dave Sampson is a man of wisdom!

[@someguy7222]

This guy has a show? I need to check it out. He's making me want to have hope

[@jnsboi6377]

Amazing work as always

[@HeavyC78]

Great hook up Casey! Video was hella awesome!

[@Mr.Ed_Wayner]

Excellent interview!

[@patrickleitgeb]

David says for fans to buy season tickets. We did. Then Fisher traded away all of the good players and raised season ticket prices.

[@rainbowmade1880]

We need a little more reassurance from the owners before that happens.

[@retailhiphop1991]

Although unlikely, I wouldn't be shocked if some owners vote against relocation and the Athletics end up staying in Oakland. The expansion fee for a potential Las Vegas expansion team would be very high.

[@fleabaglane]

Only need 23 of 30 Sea,AZ,LAD,SD,LAA, due to alot of fans in Las Vegas, so maybe issue with tv still not enough to stop it from happening. I am a die-hard A's fan since 6 years old, I'm 52 next month this succckkk!!!

[@Dingosean]

@@fleabaglane I could see SD, LAA, LAD, Arizona, and maybe CO saying no... Get a couple of random owners who just don't like the idea like Steinbrenner or whatever and who knows... I really hope that theyre absolutely not leaving Oakland though at the end of the day and that this whole thing is just to squeeze one little concession out of Oakland, or that theyre waiting until all the bonds come through in the city. Maybe they even have a secret deal with Thao that theyll make Oakland politicians look like the winners at the end of the day, but theyre going to play with Vegas to get them a team in the future too. It's all hopium I'm huffing, of course... but it would be so silly for baseball to run away from a sure bet with Howard Terminal...

[@deanwille334]

MLB has morons running it! Keeping A’s in Oakland with a beautiful waterfront stadium at Howard Terminal and giving Vegas expansion makes most sense!

[@lovesgucci1]

I don’t know how to feel about Samson. I like hearing his point of view, even when I agree or disagree with him. He’s also been there & understands the in’s and out’s of the business of MLB. But here’s where I’m conflicted on him: He helped ruin the Expos so they can sell the team and buy the Marlins. He also knows how to make it sound like he’s giving us some insider information but it’s not as deep as he makes it sound. It’s stuff we already knew. He defends the deadbeat owners but does it in a way where he wants us to be more empathetic to them. That probably made no sense 😂

[@rainbowmade1880]

He also says he likes Manfred and continues to support him😒. If he’s so close to these guys, hopefully he’s telling us the truth about what’s going on behind the scenes.

[@lovesgucci1]

I highly doubt he’s telling us anything we don’t already know, but he likes to make it sound like we’re getting some inside information.

[@monica93304]

@CaseyPratt. Great get for your channel my friend. Fantastic.

[@rainbowmade1880]

I am really trying to not get my hopes up that they are staying….this has really broken my heart.

[@joshuadesautels]

I am really trying to stay positive that they could be staying.

[@smokey5100]

Hang in there... We still have time to save the A's. There's another video on KZbin where the gentleman is suggesting that we reach out to Senator Barbara Lee to mediate the deal between the A's and the city of Oakland because local and federal money is being used so Miss Lee can call them together if needed.

[@vincesmith2499]

​@@smokey5100She's not a senator and hopefully never will be.

[@smokey5100]

@@vincesmith2499 I mean *congresswoman lol

[@someguy7222]

@@smokey5100 if we're putting our hope on that useless Commie Barb Lee... We're doomed. Not even her fellow party partners in NV giving her any respect.

[@vlad_the_impala]

If Samson is right about ownership and the commissioner saying one thing to the public, but intending the opposite.... that's some next level kayfabe. We're just along for the emotional roller-coaster ride I guess.

[@527Izzy]

Wow! That was great!

[@gtcreels532]

Thanks Casey

[@J.robertfrick]

Please Mayor Thao, pick up the phone. If this doesn’t work hold a press conference laying out the bullet points of where the deal was before April

[@someguy7222]

Absolutely 100% THIS The mayor needs to make a ruckus that she has a deal on the table and waiting. Fish ain't gonna call. Get proactive. Make some noise. Sitting back waiting for a miracle is NOT the way.

[@jerrywells6875]

Please explain to me that major league owners would move a team out of the sixth largest market to the 40th largest market. Southern Nevada only has 2.3 million people. The barrier has 7.7 million people. All this does not make sense

[@horsepowerdude]

Casey here's an idea to run by Sheng Thao or the assembly member who represents Alameda county- eminent domain. The county or state could use eminent domain to seize the A's from John Fisher. It is a move not without precedent, as it was used against the Baltimore Colts by the governor of Maryland in 1984 when a law authorizing the use of eminent domain to seize the community asset was signed. The only reason why it didn't work was because the owner of the colts knew what was happening and packed up the team gear into a bunch of trucks and fled the state in the middle of the night. Do you think they Mayor has been talking about this?

[@horsepowerdude]

@@Joesmith-mg6xd that is not true. The Oakland A’s fan base is a sleeping Giant. When a good team is out on the field the fans will come out.

[@horsepowerdude]

@@Joesmith-mg6xd I meant to say good team, not hood team. It’s like this, if chipotle doubles the price of a burrito and gives you half, would you go to chipotle? No. But if new management comes in and reduces the price and increases it’s size back to normal, you would go back. That’s what the fan base is like for the A’s right now. A bad owner mistreating fans is the reason for low attendance. But if a better owner comes in and puts a better product on the field, the fan base will come back.

[@horsepowerdude]

@@Joesmith-mg6xd Oakland is full of activists? You don't see an excuse not to go? This is all nonsense. If you have an owner that tears down a competitive team and leaves us with minor league prospects who are not ready for the big leagues yes, you get a team with the worst record in baseball. Who would want to go see that?

[@horsepowerdude]

@@Joesmith-mg6xd You are wrong. The team has a very large profit and could invest in higher quality players to improve the on field product. Granted they could use more revenue streams but still, they have more money than you think.

[@radio_bassment8681]

I love samson, ive spent time with him, but i dont think hes 100 percent accurate. Miami & Vegas are apples and oranges, that marlins park is so far from where all of the centralized tourism is located. Its just not the same.

[@taunton613]

In 2017 many were saying NHL could never work. The people here love it; our visitors love it. By the way some of our visitors come here 8, 9, 10 times a year--they want something new to see. Miami is great, but Las Vegas is different.

[@radio_bassment8681]

@@taunton613 agreed. I am a bay area native, still on the radio in the bay area, own businesses in the bay area & operate two in Vegas to understand both markets to a tee. Samson has a ton of valid points but I do know that being on the strip is a huge advantage that Miami does not have so the comparison isn't the same. We shall see how this pans out.

[@Tvsnumber1fan]

Oh and if this thing is voted on by the teams that won’t most likely happen until the winter meetings in December and i’m not really sure if everything will even be ready by then.

[@jester1176]

Don't give me hope, Mr. Samson.

[@rainbowmade1880]

Casey- Can you please meet with the Mayor and Barbara Lee and get them up to speed with everything that has happened and the path forward. It doesn’t take thousands of letters and emails for them to know the fans are still behind them to keep our A’s here. Please do it today!!!!!!!!!

[@rainbowmade1880]

Did the A’s get good value for all the all-star players they recently traded? Is it even possible the A’s are leveraging LV for a deal back in Oakland? We all loath Fisher, Manfred and Kaval at this point.

[@Captain_Solo]

As terrible as this whole situation has been, if at the 11th hour by some miracle the A’s ownership and Oakland come to a deal, the bad blood and anger will dissipate into relief and joy. To go to bed knowing the team is staying in the Bay Area with a new stadium in the horizon will rejuvenate the franchise and the fanbase. As far as the A’s getting value for their recent trades most scouts and baseball heads have stated they failed to recoup any of the talent they lost. Maybe by design to make the team so uncompetitive to help facilitate the move. I mean if you look at the infield they had of Olson, Simien, Chapman and Murphy. It mirrors the early 2000’s teams that had Giambi, Tejada, Chavez.

[@Enginshim]

The A’s consistently are the best team in terms of scouting, developing, and drafting players.

[@rainbowmade1880]

It would be crazy to purposely not get talent back especially if you’re promising LV that you will be competitive! Of course if they leave, I hope they suck and if they stay I’ll hope some of these prospects pan out.😅

[@Enginshim]

Samson is right though. Ruiz, Rooker, Lauranado are all stars. They have no pen though

[@someguy7222]

I might loath Mr. Burns, $mithers & jabroni Manfred but I LOVE the A's more. If they could do the right thing and leave the team in Oakland, I'm willing to forgive. Just please don't take the team away, for the love of God don't take the team away

[@Old_Foxy_Grandpa]

I saw the moving trucks when the Raiders moved to LA. I haven't been to an NFL game since. Of course, I'm only one guy, But when I see the moving trucks with the A's logo leave town, the same thing will happen to MLB.

[@sirchi8731]

Is city of Oakland preparing for a expansion team especially since they getting improved grant money

[@fleabaglane]

MLB will not give another one if they do it will be for a long time, like Expos 2004, it's 2023 expansion coming, and they are not being considered for one again.

[@PatrickVaughan-qq5wl]

Hasn't Fisher's commitment been constant at $1.1 Billion since 2018 or so? Haven't we had a little inflation since then? Where is that inflation component coming from?

[@snarfsnarf3062]

I only have one thing to ask Mr. Casey, "was that really awesome????"

[@seanlovens8555]

Great Advice in minute 27! BUY Season tickets...GO TO games now with your family.

[@lordbraunschweiger7814]

here are the things you need to understand with the renderings....the retractable roof opens half way. They have always described as a partially retractable roof. They were very clear on that. There will be no grass it will be artificial, also on the rendering you can notice the very large MGM logo in the outfield across the street.... Guess who will be a major partner and sponsor... there are rumblings about MGM properties buying ballys.... The entire Culinary union is behind this and they run things here.

[@Tvsnumber1fan]

Oh don’t forget the A’s will also have to get all of the building permits and final approvals needed from Clark County for the ballpark once all of the funding is in place and all of the financial information has been laid out and the League and the teams have approved the relocation. Plus you are having a team relocating to the 40th tv market when there is already issues with local television revenue in baseball. Plus it looks like six teams may not vote for this relocation. If two more teams vote no it will not pass since you need 23 out of 30 for this to pass. Also you have something that no body is talking about and that is the whole situation with the megs-drought that is going on in the south western United States. So this is not a done deal.

[@WayneCoyShow]

1. San Diego Padres 2. Arizona Diamondbacks 3. Los Angeles Angels 4. New York Yankees 5. Los Angeles Dodgers 6. Chicago White Sox 7. Seattle Mariners 8. Milwaukee Brewers All seem to make sense for a vote against the A's moving to Las Vegas.

[@timothyryan7526]

@@WayneCoyShow Why Yankees, and White Sox?

[@WiggleBabies]

LV is similar to a place like Portland, Salt Lake, OKC etc. They honestly are probably only going to be able to support 2 teams fully. NBA will definitely get in whether MLB goes in before them or not. NBA will honestly be the best supported team in LV and generate the most revenue. NHL or NFL is going to fail there, I would lean NHL because desert hockey ain't all that, however they did just win the cup so it might boost its popularity there, but they still didn't have sellouts during their honeymoon years. Lot of hockey fans were pointing that out even with a 1st year appearance IN the Stanley Cup Series. This year's cup ratings plummeted to it's lowest ever, almost a 50% drop. If they hold on then it's definitely going to be the Raiders and NFL that fail there. They too can't sellout to their own fans with visitors buying them up and that's not going to last after the honeymoon years. 1 of them is going to bounce after 20 years or so and it won't be NBA I can guarantee that. If MLB moves in that certainly won't last and it will look similar to what is happening in Miami after only a handful of years. Speaking of Miami, 1 of those teams needs to bounce to maybe Orlando or Jacksonville. Miami's sport market is too crowded like David Samson is saying, but to be fair the arena for the Panthers and NHL is just too far out and not a very good location. Jacksonville might be a better landing spot than Orlando. Orlando has NBA and MLS while Jacksonville only has NFL. I would say Miami can hold 4 if NHL got a better suited arena, but seeing the Marlins struggle is a huge red flag and nothing is wrong with that location. I think either the Marlins or Panthers should possibly look at Jacksonville, IF they can't get things situated.

[@deanwille334]

I think NFL and MLB won’t be successful long term. NBA and NHL will be very successful

[@isaacmf3229]

#waittosee

[@mjwings3228]

I don't get how he is saying they were bad at "selling it." They got it passed through the legislature pretty easily. Plenty of votes over. But fair points on Fisher being silent and it not mattering. Also on how A's actually are doing it right. They understood that their door was closed atm. Time to hold back. And how that will not matter with a stadium deal.

[@adamhustler3639]

Samson, you did it! You railed on your last podcast how you didn't like when people said "could care less" when they mean "couldn't" ... and you just used "could" when saying "kids could care less" .. lol

[@alfredoescalante7418]

Since the Oakland Athletics have always been a commuter team drawing fans from all over the Bay . Wouldn't they be better off building at the Coliseum site

[@Sports-NV]

Sansom's comment that the Vegas TV market tiny compared to Oakland, motivates presenting the following: Comparing Las Vegas and Oakland TV Markets for Baseball Bay Area reporters like to compare the 2022-2023 Nielsen Ranking of San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose DMA, ranked 10, with the Las Vegas DMA, ranked at 40. Those same reporters like to maintain the A's independence from the Giants, but use a DMA region consisting of mostly Giants fans in an attempt to show their superior ranking over Las Vegas. To more accurately compare markets, Alameda County, where Oakland is located, would rank at 59 if counted as a separate DMA. In fairness, adding nearby Contra Costa County, also in the East Bay, would increase their combined ranking to 35. These numbers do not account for recent population declines in both California counties. So the bottom line, despite claims from the Bay Area, the TV markets of Las Vegas and Oakland and vicinity are pretty close in size. Only the mega media markets of the New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago DMAs merit two MLB teams. The Bay Area does not qualify, especially with its declining population.

[@ChrissyCruz925]

A’s also have huge followings in the following markets Sacramento,Stockton/Modesto,Fresno,Reno, The north Coast they have a stake in the whole nor cal market not just East Bay

[@Sports-NV]

@@ChrissyCruz925 Not doubting where they have fans, but the argument about TV market size uses the ranking of the DMA which leads to an incorrect comparison.

[@ChrissyCruz925]

@@Sports-NV I know for sure A’s games are broadcast in Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto and the Bay Area NBC California is broadcast all over the place

[@Sports-NV]

@@ChrissyCruz925 They are also received in Southern Nevada, but not the point regarding DMAs

[@ChrissyCruz925]

@@Sports-NV that’s the point exactly what are they broadcasting the games in the southern Nevada desert 😂

[@matthewgreen8628]

All the criticisms of the Vegas market are fine and good but then Pratt talks Vegas up as an expansion market which would be more public commitment and more up front money. Doesn't make sense

[@bigrobfff2398]

TOWN BIZ...OUT OF BUSINESS 😂🤣

[@togoandmoss]

Wow ok! So the A’s stay in Oakland…. Who knew. 😂😂😂

[@Sports-NV]

Sansom's comments indicate he is not familiar with the situation in Nevada, though that doesn't stop him from making some invalid points. Aside from Sansom’s opinion on the renderings, they were effective in Nevada. They had a WOW factor and people were not critical as they were in the Bay Area. It definitely helped the process in Nevada. Regarding the relationship between the A’s and Bally’s, Sansom ignores the fact that Bally’s and A’s are partners and Bally’s wants the project to succeed and will make appropriate accommodations as required for the retractable roof. Denver metro has 2.9 M people. Las Vegas metro has 2.29 M. No one questions 4 sports in Denver, but some question 4 sports in Las Vegas. Ignorant of the facts. Sansom's comment that the Vegas TV market tiny compared to Oakland, motivates me to present some information in a separate comment.

[@richardn1524]

Denver TV market: 16th Vegas TV market: 40th

[@deanwille8130]

Get a real owner and a stadium would’ve been built in either Howard Terminal or Coliseum site! Fisher is the problem by ruling out Coliseum site even though it’s not ideal for baseball

[@IvyLeather13]

David just "tells it like it is" but conveniently the owners always do the reasonable thing most all of the time and mostly err on tertiary matters.

[@davidammons1700]

Casey n Brodie got respect for you guys

[@fleabaglane]

CP & B.B are grasping at straws Ihope I'm wrong

[@rainbowmade1880]

Grasping?

[@fleabaglane]

@@rainbowmade1880 mistake forgot the R

[@Ri5004]

WHY THE HELL IT SAYS "POTENTIAL"... IT IS OVER MLB OWNERS WILL VOTE YES

[@rubenortiz1884]

Grammar lesson for you. Potential-having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future. MLB has the “potential” as per SB1 not stating which team will move and/or expand to that market. A’s have “potential” to be that team. However so do all the other teams or possible expansion teams. Lastly, I’ll use an example for you. Your comment had the potential to be smart and meaningful.

[@joshuadesautels]

They're not gone yet. Sheesh.

[@joshuadesautels]

​@@rubenortiz1884LOL.

[@DerekDominoes]

Tell me you didn't watch the video without telling me you didn't watch the video.

[@fleabaglane]

@joshuadesautels Die hard since age 6 now 52 next month.I fell since only need 23 of 30 MLB clubs to get a yes vote.The Commissioner knows he has the votes,I feel this is grasping at straws.

[@davidammons1700]

Oakland fan forever

[@davidammons1700]

Billy beans n David frost do good job

[@davidammons1700]

Tampa Bay goes to Nashville