It took far too long, but the critical parties have finally wised up to the potential for the A’s in Oakland.

It took the San Jose hopes to crash and burn. It took diving fan interest and rampant criticism. It took principle owner John Fisher becoming more active with outsiders inquiring about buying the franchise. But the A’s seem to have, finally, gotten serious about finding a solution in Oakland. More serious anyway.

John Fisher personally checking out the Howard Terminal site. Lew Wolff planning to build a much-needed hotel in Oakland. The A’s brass seem to be all in. Finally.

“They are committed to the idea that they need to get something done in Oakland,” Manfred told the media before Game 3 of the NLDS at AT&T Park. “I’ve told them. They understand that it is my strong preference that the team stay in Oakland.”

It doesn’t matter if the reason is that Fisher and Wolff are out of options, or if they are getting pressure from MLB. What matters is there is more optimism about a new stadium for the A’s in Oakland than ever. What matters is there might be some redemptive value in the ownership group.

Stadium ventures require a certain savvy. It is a massive undertaking involving busuiness, politics, technology, customer service and transportation. This isn’t just about money. This is about leadership. This is about vision. The A’s approach to a new stadium over the years has illustrated a lack of such intangibles.

But if they can do this, pull off a stadium in Oakland, it legitimizes their chances of being worthy stewards of the beloved A’s. It means there is hope they can turn the Green & Gold into a potent franchise. Because winning a championship requires the same leadership and vision.

Warriors CEO Joe Lacob, who would hit the Quan if the Fisher and Wolff sold him the A’s, said building the Warriors’ new stadium in San Francisco has been the hardest thing he’s ever done. Harder than purchasing the Warriors in an auction. Harder than turning the woe begotten franchise into a championship.

And Lacob, even though he is ripping the heart out of many Oaklanders by moving the team to San Francisco, is doing it all privately. He said the plan was to break ground in January, no matter where the latest appeal stands. That would be four years and four months after he hired Rick Welts to, among a host of things, head the stadium project. They’ve delayed the opening date twice, changed sites once. These things are no joke.

It takes futuristic thinking, a next-evel mindset, to complete such a project this day and age. It takes a money-is-no-object perspective. That is why Lacob says things like this:

“It’s going to be one of the greatest arena’s maybe anyone’s ever seen,” Lacob said Monday after the Warriors’ luncheon. “It’s pretty amazing.”

That is also why Mark Davis pan-handling the West for a stadium, waiting on Oakland to deliver a plan, is an indictment on his savvy. That is why the A’s owners collecting revenue and letting their franchise wallow in embarrassment — all while waiting on the Raiders’ outcome — is an indictment on their leadership.

This wasn’t ever rocket science. For anyone willing to look past stereotypes and pockets of seediness, Oakland has been booming. Just ride through West Oakland and witness the gentrification. Nestled so near the big wallets of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, growth in Oakland is expected to continue.

What owner worth his or her weight doesn’t get drunk on the possibilities? Only a bottom-line profit hound wouldn’t get enamored by clearing the high bar this area sets. When you’re playing the ownership game in this area, municipalities are more a weight than an aid. The big dreams and high standards in these parts eliminate traditional sports ownership models. The real profit is in innovation and ingenuity, which is contrary to bureacracy and politics. It’s a long game, not for the shortsighted, how-are-we-splitting-the-check types.

Fisher and Wolff seems to have changed their tune. that. It seems they are ready to assume the challenge of being 21st century owners with the chops to do something as epic in the Bay.

If they can pull it off, they can prove themselves worthy of this market, this team and this fan base.