With the Oakland Coliseum still undergoing stadium renovations in spring 1996, taking away the once-beautiful view of the Oakland hills to be replaced by the monstrosity now known as Mount Davis, there was growing concern by MLB officials over whether the Coliseum would be in shape for baseball when the Oakland Athletics’ season began.
When the Raiders moved back to Oakland in 1995, they played their season under the vintage football set-up at the stadium. When the season ended, construction started on the then 30-year-old facility in January 1996. It was a given that Mt. Davis wouldn’t be completed for the start of the 1996 Oakland Athletics season.