MESA, Ariz. — He’s now owner emeritus of the A’s, and former managing partner Lew Wolff remains a major fan of the team.

Wolff, who still has a 1 percent ownership stake, was at Hohokam Park this week to watch batting practice and talk with players, coaches and team officials, then he attended the A’s game against the White Sox on Monday in Glendale, Ariz. The Chronicle sat down with Wolff, 82, to get his thoughts on the current team, the ballpark search and reclusive majority owner John Fisher.

Q: What have you been doing since leaving the ownership group?

A: I’m emeritus, which doesn’t mean much. I’ve had the joy of watching some of the seeds that were planted when I was there grow, especially this year.

The main thing I’ve been doing is supporting all the new activity that’s been going on and being available when they ask me, which they haven’t had the occasion to do very much.

I do talk to John Fisher quite a bit, and he’s enthusiastic about this year and the years ahead.

I am trying to get a hotel in downtown Oakland, right near City Hall, between 14th and 15th and Jefferson.

Q: You have experience with real-estate issues in Oakland and when it comes to setbacks with the ballpark search. Has the team talked to you much about the recent snafu with the Laney College site?

A: Not really. They know my feelings are pretty much confined to the Coliseum. But the opportunity to look at other locations wasn’t something I felt we needed to do, and I think they’re doing it in the proper manner.

Q: We don’t get a chance to speak to John Fisher — what’s your sense of his feelings about the team and the stadium situation?

A: I’ve known John for over two decades, and he’s one of the nicest, most intelligent friends I have in my life. He loves sports, and he’s very active in lots of things, charities and sports. John is a baseball fan, he has four kids, he’s one of the best, most excited fathers I know. And his mother, Doris, is a huge A’s fan.

I think what he wants is a home for the A’s that he and his family can be proud of, very much like the Fisher Collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Avaya soccer stadium. Wherever they locate a new ballpark, I guarantee you that it will have John’s absolute insistence on quality.

Q: So fans shouldn’t have any concerns about Fisher selling — or moving — the team?

A: I can’t speak for him completely, but moving is a nonstarter in my opinion. He might do it a different way than I would, but his commitment to a ballpark is huge. It’s not minor. It’s huge.

Q: From afar, what is your view of the grievance the union filed Friday against the A’s, Rays, Pirates and Marlins for failing to spend revenue sharing?

A: First of all, it’s very clear: Every year, you have to turn in a report about how you spend the revenue-sharing dollars, and we did that every year. Not one time was there any feedback that we were doing anything other than the right thing. Now, that doesn’t mean that the owners who have to pay revenue sharing love it. But we never heard anything about it.

The grievance was only talking about last year, and I was not there, but I think it has no relevance. I think the union is upset over other things. It doesn’t have anything to do with what we’re doing.

Q: Many fans are upset over the constant roster churn; how do you respond to that?

A: Every move we made was to make the team better — every one. Each decision was based on improving the team to get to the playoffs.

That’s changed a little bit now. The decision came down to: Do we save our ammunition, or do we spend it? Now, we’re saving it, because we’re saving it at a base we can start with.

Q: How much input did you have into the A’s current rebuild?

A: I really think Billy (Beane, vice president of baseball operations) and David (Forst, general manager) are two of the best talent evaluators in the game. Once in a while, they make a mistake, but very rarely, not as many as other people might.

I think this year might surprise some people, as some of the players jump to the big stage. I get the same feeling I got a few years ago, when (manager) Bob Melvin first came aboard. If it’s not this year, it will be next year. A large percentage of the players were drafted when I was there, and I remember thinking at the time, “I sure hope I get to see them again.” Now we’re seeing them.