Take me out of the ballgame: Oakland bets on grassroots culture to fill its pro sports void

Oakland has lost its top pro franchises—the A’s, Raiders, and Warriors—and is now leaning on grassroots entertainment culture to close the gap. The article highlights fans such as Tony Perez, 72, who says the A’s departure “crushed” him and felt impossible to replace, recalling years in Section 149 at the Oakland Coliseum. Sports economists generally expect limited local economic harm when teams leave, because spending shifts rather than disappears. But in Oakland’s case, economists warn the city is competing with nearby Bay Area centers for the same fans’ time and money, with many reportedly spending more in San Francisco and San Jose.