Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, fresh off his recent acquisition of a new WNBA franchise for the Bay Area, has hinted at the possibility of adding another sports franchise to his portfolio.
During the press conference held to unveil the new Bay Area WNBA team, Lacob openly discussed his interest in purchasing the Oakland Athletics, should the opportunity arise.
“We’ve over the years been obviously very interested,” Lacob stated. “You all know that I’ve said it, and if for whatever reason [Fisher] decided it wasn’t going to work, sure, we might be interested.”
Warriors' Joe Lacob on possibly buying the Oakland A's: "You all know that I've said it, and if for whatever reason (Fisher) decided it wasn't going to work, sure, we might be interested." https://t.co/VI5Ef1o8aJ
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) October 6, 2023
The Oakland Athletics have long been the subject of relocation rumors, with talks of a potential move to Las Vegas gaining traction.
However, the move has not been made official yet, leaving room for potential buyers to enter the picture and potentially keep the team in the Bay Area.
“You have to have someone who wants to sell something to be interested in buying it,” Lacob added, acknowledging that his interest was contingent on the willingness of the current owner, John Fisher, to sell. He emphasized that he had been a longtime fan of the Athletics.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob has brought four NBA titles to Golden State — and just helped bring a WNBA franchise to the Bay Area.
Still, there's one team he continues to want in his portfolio: the Oakland A's.https://t.co/Pao2jQv4CW
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 6, 2023
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred previously stated that a formal vote on the Athletics proposed move to Las Vegas is expected to take place in November.
The league’s relocation committee, which includes prominent figures such as Philadelphia Phillies CEO John Middleton and Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman, met last week to discuss additional details regarding the potential move.
According to Forbes, the Oakland Athletics are currently valued at approximately $1.18 billion, while Joe Lacob’s Golden State Warriors hold a substantial valuation of $7 billion.
Lacob has recently committed $50 million towards the new Bay Area WNBA franchise, underscoring his continued interest and investment in the world of sports.
Joe Lacob already is predicting a WNBA championship 😂 pic.twitter.com/V8zlW3kDaT
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 5, 2023
Would you like to see Lacob buy the A’s?
What do you think will end up happening with the once-proud franchise?