Punk Rockers Rancid Urge Sale of Oakland Athletics While Performing at MLB Stadiums

By Paul Banks

Green Day, in support of their new album ("Saviors"), and to honor the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough album ("Dookie") and 20th anniversary of their most critically-acclaimed album ("American Idiot"), have been playing to sold out shows at Major League Baseball stadiums this summer. Smashing Pumpkins, a headliner in their own right, have been opening for them.

These shows have also featured two more opening acts, the Linda Lindas and Rancid, which is where we find the second direct baseball connection to this tour.

This logo will become a baseball phantom the minute this season ends. The team will spend several seasons in Sacramento.Photo byOakland Athletics

Lars Frederiksen, the front man of Rancid made this observation last Saturday night at American Family Field (everyone still calls it Miller Park): “I see some folks in Oakland Athletics gear. I’m from Oakland. I just don’t like what’s going on with the A’s. So John Fisher, the statement remains the same: “SELL THE FUC*ING TEAM.”

To which the crowd responded with a roar of approval. Rancid then went straight into one of their biggest hits, "Time Bomb," which they dedicated to the fans dressed in Oakland A's regalia. The A's fans have shown up to other shows on this tour, with Frederiksen calling this a "phenomena," and repeating the routine at other ballparks.

You can see the rendition at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, in both of the links below.

https://twitter.com/Mattyplayzbass/status/1827488938539262454

https://twitter.com/robduncan_27/status/1825172521106526259

Sometimes Frederiksen refers to Fisher as "a silver-spooned prick," and/or a "piece of shit," so he has made his feelings on the Oakland A's ownership abundantly clear. He isn't subtle about it either. In April of 2023, the Athletics announced a their plan to build a new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip at the former site of the Wild Wild West Gambling Hall & Hotel casino, adjacent to Interstate 15.

At the same time, the club ended negotiations with the city of Oakland. Since then, we have seen protests by fans against the relocation with a "reverse boycott," with A's supporters wearing green t-shirts reading "Sell." They also hold up signs reading "Sell the team!" and chant this slogan during the game.

In April of 2022, Forbes estimated Fisher's net worth at $2.4 billion.

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”