The Oakland Athletics’ departure from the Coliseum after the 2024 season ended a historic 56-year run. This long residency saw thrilling victories and World Series titles. Now the team plays in Sacramento, with plans to eventually relocate to Las Vegas. Their departure follows the Raiders and Warriors, leaving Oakland without any major men’s professional sports teams. Sadly, the end of an era isn’t just impacting the fans. There are workers whose entire future lies in uncertainty.
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The Athletics announced a $1 million assistance fund amid their relocation plans. Dubbed the ‘Oakland Coliseum Vendor Assistance Fund,’ the initiative was specifically targeted at employees of third-party vendors. These workers included security staff, concession sellers, and retail clerks employed by companies like Aramark and Allied Universal. The team introduced this fund as a means to support these essential workers through the challenging transition. But for some, this promise of assistance rang hollow as challenges emerged.
One such worker was Erica Quinonez, a security supervisor for Allied Universal. She was employed at the Coliseum from 2017 through 2024, dependent on the income provided by A’s games. She needed the cash to facilitate a move after losing her Coliseum work, so she applied for the assistance fund. However, she received an email stating her application had been denied. The rejection cited her location at Allied Universal’s Union City office rather than Oakland as the reason for disqualification.
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Reports state that the initial application would not have included this Union City branch requirement. Quinonez expressed confusion and disappointment, calling the rejection a “slap in the face.” Unfortunately, she wasn’t alone. Two other Allied Universal colleagues in the same branch also applied for assistance funds, but heard nothing back. Even recipients, such as 15-year retail veteran Julie Silva, who received $1,500, stated that it wasn’t sufficient. Silva described the amount as ‘kind of cheap’ given her years of service.
A’s acknowledge workforce impact amid Sacramento move
Public statements from Athletics management acknowledged the impact on the workforce. They acknowledged the “significant contributions” of impacted employees, stating that a workforce reduction was necessary. “We are providing severance packages, assistance, and resources to help them through this transition,” a spokesperson stated. A’s President Dave Kaval also mentioned addressing the unfortunate staff reductions “head-on,” indicating an awareness of the situation’s severity.
While the A’s addressed workforce impacts, Major League Baseball has remained silent on the vendor assistance fund. The team’s move to Sacramento had been previously defended by Commissioner Rob Manfred. “There is no Oakland offer… They never got to a point where they had a plan to build a stadium at any site,” he said in November 2023. The league supported the move, but declined to comment on the fallout affecting these workers.
Meanwhile, the team is experiencing a notably supportive response from Sacramento residents. Energetic crowds attended early games at Sutter Health Park, including reported sellouts close to the park’s capacity of 14,000. Attendance for subsequent games remained strong, often exceeding 10,600 fans. This creates a lively atmosphere, contrasting with lower turnouts common during the A’s final seasons in Oakland. Player Brent Rooker discussed the reception after an early exhibition game, stating, “The fans were awesome… It was cool to see the support that we got, and hopefully it continues.”
Most importantly, the team itself looks promising as the 2025 season unfolds in Sacramento. Despite a challenging 5-8 start that places them fourth in the AL West, young players offer hope. Top prospect Jacob Wilson is making his mark with a .396 average, while Tyler Soderstrom leads with six homers. Signings like pitcher Luis Severino are strategic additions aimed at bolstering the roster. However, as the team looks to the future, what impact will the problems that left Oakland workers unemployed have on the community they left behind?
Written by
Edited by
Pratyusha Srivastava