Athletics owner/managing partner Lew Wolff issued a statement on Tuesday regarding to team's efforts to relocate to the Fremont area. "After much consideration, today we informed Mayor Wasserman and City Council members that the Oakland Athletics will cease efforts to relocate our franchise to the City of Fremont. "I expressed my regrets and gratitude, especially to those people who shared our vision and spent endless hours in support of our proposal. However, it became increasingly clear that our ballpark project faced significant delays ahead and I could not, in good conscience, continue to lead our team down this path. "My focus now is on baseball with Spring Training and the opening of the 2009 season. I am extremely excited about the team's prospects this year. "My goal and desire for the organization is to determine a way to keep the team in Northern California. This goal has not changed."