Picture this: it’s 2017, and the Golden State Warriors are NBA champions. The Oakland Athletics are playoff contenders. The Oakland Raiders are fighting for a spot in the playoffs with sold out tickets every game. The city of Oakland has had sports teams since 1968 and is known for having one of the most dedicated fan bases in the country. 

     Fast forward to today: the Warriors have moved to San Francisco, the Raiders are located in Vegas, and With a league low record in attendance, the A’s are slated to move to Vegas by 2027.

Oakland is in need of something to bring back the passion of what it used to be. The solution is, Oakland Ballers. The Oakland Ballers play in the Pioneer League, which is a professional baseball league not affiliated with the MLB. They play in Raimondi Park, which is located in West Oakland. Every time the team plays a game, the stadium is full to its capacity as Oakland fans want to watch a team that cares about their fans.

“It is really sad what the owner did to the A’s, I loved going to the games as a kid, and I can’t believe that they are gone,” said sophomore Baker Hanshaw, an avid A’s fan. “I think that I will go to a couple [Ballers games] during the year, and I hope they become what the A’s used to be.”

Sophomore Austin Horton, who grew up going to A’s games, said, “I’m excited for the Ballers, finally an organization that cares about their fans. I hope to go to some games.”

The Oakland Ballers are already selling out their stadium and are the future of sports in Oakland. They can never be what the A’s used to be, they can fill the void and bring the people of Oakland closer to each other once again.