OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s now have the blessing to study both the Coliseum and Howard Terminal in their quest to build a new ballpark in Oakland.

The Oakland City Council on Tuesday night approved an “exclusive negotiating agreement” with the A’s, allowing the two to begin talks about constructing a ballpark at the Coliseum, the team’s home for 50 years.

In a vote taken just before midnight, the council entered into an agreement to negotiate with the A’s over the next nine months while team President Dave Kaval studies whether the 112-acre East Oakland site is the right fit. The city can extend the negotiations an additional three months.

“This decision about a new privately financed ballpark is a really important moment not only for the A’s but our community,” Kaval told council. “We look forward to working together not only this year but for many years to come.”

Last month, the A’s and the Port of Oakland agreed to study Howard Terminal, located near Jack London Square and the estuary. Kaval has called the study of two sites “parallel paths” to keep the team in Oakland.

Though an aging complex, the Coliseum has had some bites from developers lately. Walnut Creek developer Mark Hall approached the city to build a 15,000- to 18,000-seat soccer stadium for a United Soccer League franchise. The city said another person proposed to build a corporate campus at the Coliseum.

While Howard Terminal needs an environmental review and has access issues, an environmental assessment of the Coliseum is already completed. It’s also favored for its proximity to BART, Interstate 880 and Oakland International Airport.

Oakland City Council approves Exclusive Negotiating Agreement for Coliseum site! Time to get to work! #RootedInOakland @Athletics 💯💯💯 pic.twitter.com/Cu8IoyUB1K — Dave Kaval (@DaveKaval) May 16, 2018

In March, Kaval wrote a letter to Mayor Libby Schaaf offering to purchase the complex for $135 million. The A’s current lease ends in 2024, a year after Kaval hopes to open the new privately financed stadium. Alameda County is considering selling its 50 percent share of the complex to the city of Oakland, which would allow the city to be the lone group negotiating with the A’s.

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A’s President Kaval says he, team “want the Raiders in Oakland” The city expects a community benefits package as part of a new Coliseum ballpark, including open space, transportation infrastructure programs, affordable housing and jobs for local residents. As part of the “exclusive negotiating agreement,” the A’s agree to pay the cost of city employees working on the deal as well as any work related to Howard Terminal.

Kaval has said the A’s will announce the new stadium location by the end of this year.