A nonbinding vote will be made by eight Oakland city officials on a $12 billion development and ballpark plan. Receiving an affirmative vote will keep the hope alive for the Oakland Athletics to remain in Oakland, but a dissenting vote will begin the process of the team’s relocation.

Dave Kaval, President of the A’s, was extremely uncertain which way the vote would go. “Our future in Oakland is hanging in the balance and we are doing everything we can to get a ‘yes’ vote tomorrow on our plan and keep the A’s rooted in Oakland. But we don’t know if we’re gonna get a positive vote. There’s still a lot of areas we’re apart significantly with the city, and we go into the vote not knowing how it’s gonna play out.”

This process has gone on for two decades as the team has tried to secure a brand new stadium in the Bay Area. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred recently referred to this vote after the prolonged process as “the end.” Several locations have been denied such as San Jose and other locations in Oakland, while renovations of the Coliseum have been deemed nonviable.

The A’s have made public proposals for a new stadium in Oakland for the cost of about $1 billion including $450 million in community benefits, with an $11 billion additional cost to build up the surrounding community. The city of Oakland made a counterproposal. “Lacks details and specifics and really doesn’t answer any of the questions that we have that need to be addressed to continue to move forward,” said Kaval about the counter.

A major issue that has surfaced in the plan is the A’s request of the city of Oakland to pay $855 million in infrastructure improvements using taxes generated from the project. The A’s and the city each proposed infrastructure plans that the other dissented. The city of Oakland’s proposed plan would leave Kaval and the A’s with a $352 million shortage.

Kaval has been at the forefront of the A’s stadium efforts since 2016. He was not pleased with the shortage of money the A’s would be forced to cover.

“That’s an extraordinary sum of money. And not having specificity is a key concern. There’s also concern about additional taxes that they’re putting on the project — condo transfer tax, a transportation tax that obviously push up the cost, as well. Those are all items that are problematic. And we’ve been clear that the project can only do so much. We can’t solve all of Oakland’s problems, but we can do a lot to make this a better community and keep the A’s here for many generations to come. And that’s why we’re looking for an affirmative vote on our plan.”

“Hopefully it goes in our direction. I’d love to stay in Oakland. I hope the team stays in Oakland. We have a long, rich history here. I think that’s the case with anybody who’s either grown up here or lives here or is an Oakland A’s baseball fan or a player,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin.

Justin Berton, a spokesperson for Oakland’s Mayor Schaaf, released a statement after the Mayor Office refused to provide comments to ESPN. “The City and the A’s are continuing their dialogue today with the shared goal to make a world-class ballpark a reality. The City will continue to advocate for a proposal that supports and serves Oakland and our entire region, provides affordable housing, public parks, great jobs and other direct benefits for the community — all without risk to our Port, our taxpayers, or the City or County’s general funds.”

“In many ways, we’re down to our last at-bat in Oakland. But if we get a win tomorrow, and an agreement we agree with, we can send it into extra innings and hopefully get the final victory in the fall,” said Kaval referring to the vote.

The XFL season is in full-swing, but most football pundits have their eyes glued to the NFL’s free agency. Free agents like Amari Cooper and Drew Brees will be on the free agent wire this offseason, but the real question on everyone’s minds revolves around where Tom Brady will end up.

Mostly every sports fan knew that Brady’s contact with the Patriots would end this season. He’s been the starter in Foxborough since 2001, so at one point it was almost safe to assume that  Brady would spend his whole career there. However, Brady is a free agent and that’s not going to stop teams from chasing down the legendary, six-time winning Super Bowl champion. The Las Vegas Raiders have been rumored to offer Brady a two-year, $60 million deal, if he chooses to accept.

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If Brady joins Vegas’ roster, he will be joining a 7-9 team that has missed the playoffs for three consecutive years. For reference, Brady only missed one playoff, and that was his sophomore season back in 2002. It’s worth noting that the NFL does not have ‘max-contact’ options, like the NBA. Therefore, Las Vegas and other teams can open their bank accounts to the 42 year-old. Las Vegas and other teams will be allowed to talk to free agents on March 18.

New England fans and players have all chipped in their ‘two cents’ about where Brady should end up going. Surprise, they want him to stay in New England!

Julian Edelman may even seem too excited to see his best buddy and all-star quarterback play another year in New England. The pair were seen at a Syracuse Orange basketball game on February 29.

Marshawn Lynch‘s career in football will continue in Oakland as the co-owner of a new Indoor Football League team – The Oakland Panthers.

Since Lynch and entrepreneur Roy Choi wanted to keep football in the former’s hometown after the Oakland Raiders announced their departure to San Francisco, the pair decided the IFL’s next team would play where the Golden State Warriors have hosted their recent string of Championship games: Oakland Arena.

Lynch stated that he wanted to keep football in Oakland.

‘“I believe the power of football has the ability to transform a community and the families who live there,” Lynch said in a statement. “I’ve seen it and lived it. I’m excited that Da’ Town will get another team to call its own.”

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Gaming entrepreneur Choi owns two other teams for the IFL, which was founded in 2008. The IFL is the second biggest indoor football league in the nation behind the Arena Football League (AFL).

Lynch, a former NFL player, won a Super Bowl ring with the Seattle Seahawks, was selected to five Pro-Bowls, was named first and second team All-Pro, and was the rushing leader and touchdown leader. He briefly retired, but came back to play for his hometown Raiders. He’s also had a career on television, where he’s done a series of commercials and shows, including a Skittles campaign.

There were rumors that Lynch would play in the NFL for the Raiders again in 2019, especially since their starting running back Isaiah Crowell went down with an injury. The NFL season started and Lynch is nowhere to be seen, so it is safe to assume he will not be returning at 33 years old. There is no affiliation between the IFL and the NFL. Thus, his return to the NFL has not been hampered by this deal.

Redemption isn’t on the mind of the Golden State Warriors. There isn’t much to prove or to overcome, either. Motivation might be lower than it has been in a long time for the Dubs, but it always finds a way to add fuel to the fire. This time, it’s the move from the Oracle Arena in Oakland to the Chase Center in San Francisco that will give something of worth for Golden State.

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“We want to do it for the fans of Oakland,” said shooting guard Klay Thompson on the last season at the Oracle. “Been so loyal to us for 40-plus years, whatever it’s been since they’ve been in Oracle. So that definitely helps with this season. It’s leaving a big legacy behind in Oakland because people might not get to see us as much in San Francisco. And just enjoying this every night.”

The Warriors have a special connection with the fan base in Oakland, and the move has evoked mournful emotions from the team and from head coach Steve Kerr. 

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“It is bittersweet,” Kerr said. “The new arena’s going to be amazing, and we’re all excited about that, but we’re all bummed to be moving on from Oracle. So we would love to finish it the right way. It’s hard to replicate an atmosphere like Oracle’s. I think back to the Boston Garden, going to the new Garden. The old Chicago Stadium where I played to the new one. It’s hard to create that same sort of intimacy when you’re building a new arena with suites and concourses and everything else.”

The final home season for the Dubs in Oakland tips off Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Thompson won’t take that for granted.

“It’s my 10th year in the league,” he said. “That’s been my only experience, and it’s something that I’ll remember for a very long time.”