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<\/a>We had great seats for the Oakland-Chicago contes. \u00a0(Thanks go out to my daughter Elan.) Note the tarp covering the third-deck seats and the warehouse-like \u00a0“Mount Davis” in the outfield – part of what you get when you’re housed in the last multi-purpose facility serving MLB and the NFL teams.\u00a0The A’s fans were loud, loyal and knew the game. One fan cautioned \u00a0“Don’t expect anything fancy here. Fans come here to see the game – not to be seen at the game.<\/p><\/div>\n
The A\u2019s came into the game with the major league\u2019s worst record and an MLB-leading 38 errors. In dropping the contest to the ChiSox by a 7-3 margin, the home team added four more errors, and made it 14 consecutive games with at least one fielding miscue. In short, it wasn\u2019t a very pretty game \u2013 and it wasn\u2019t played in a very pretty setting.<\/p>\n
Like all baseball games, however, there was still plenty to see \u2013 and remember.\u00a0 I\u2019m a fan of the artful 6-4-3 and 4-6-3 double plays \u2013 and we got to see one of each. Notably, one of those was started by A\u2019s shortstop Marcus Semien<\/strong> <\/span>\u2013 on a tough short-hop grounder that could easily have handcuffed him. Earlier that same inning (top of the fifth), Semien had made his MLB-leading 13th<\/sup> error.<\/p>\n Max Muncy, promoted to the A’s (from AAA Nashville) April 25 hit his first MLB home run May 17.<\/p><\/div>\n We also saw an impressive performance by former Athletic Jeff Samardzija,<\/strong><\/span> who came to the White Sox from the A\u2019s in an off-season trade that included Semien. Samardzija (pronounce that one) earned the win with a solid eight innings, consistently reaching the mid-90s with his fastball. \u00a0In addition, we witnessed a sliver of history, as A\u2019s first baseman Max Muncy<\/strong><\/span> rapped his first major league home run \u2013 a two-run shot to right center in the bottom of the fourth, just out of the reach of a leaping Adam Eaton<\/strong><\/span>. Oakland\u2019s leadoff hitter Billy Burns<\/strong> <\/span>(great baseball name) stung three singles and \u201cburned\u201d \u00a0(couldn’t resist that one) Samardzija and the Sox for his third stolen base. Oakland reliever Dan Otero<\/strong><\/span> got a well-deserved mini-standing ovation from A\u2019s fans who appropriately appreciated his 3 1\/3 one-hit innings of relief.<\/p>\n But, this post is really more about the Coliseum than the game \u2013 which, as you will see as your read on, is a bit ironic.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n If you want to step back in time \u2013 to an era in which all ballplayers weren\u2019t millionaires, when fans spent the time between innings talking baseball (as opposed to texting or taking selfies), when attending the game was all about the action and not the amenities, when a complete and accurate scorecard was a source of pride, and when a double play was more important than a double martini – the O.co Coliseum may be just the ticket for you.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n As my son-in-law Amir, who joined me at the game, commented, \u201cThis (O.co Coliseum) seems like the home of blue collar baseball.\u201d\u00a0 And, as I learned from talking to Oakland A\u2019s fans, despite their complaints about the condition of the Coliseum, they take pride in the fact that it is their ballpark, home to their team and \u201cmakes the game the thing.\u201d \u00a0As I was chatting with fans in the line at the Herradura Bar concession stand (more on that later), a gentleman in a A\u2019s jersey, jeans and an A\u2019s cap cautioned me, \u201cDon\u2019t look for anything fancy here. Fans come here to see the game \u2013 not to be seen at the game.\u201d<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 (The\u00a0 \u201clike at some other ballparks\u201d<\/em> seemed implied at the end of his comment.) That turned out to be a wise observation.\u00a0 From BBRT\u2019s perspective, the A\u2019s deserve (need) a new or at least improved home, but there is an atmosphere at the Coliseum that makes a ball game at a not-so-pretty stadium a pretty good experience. In this post, I\u2019d like to share a few thoughts on my first visit to Oakland\u2019s Coliseum.<\/p>\n The O.co Coliseum (originally known as the Oakland-Alameda County Stadium) opened as the home of the American Football League\u2019s Oakland Raiders in 1966 and began its tenure as a home to Major League Baseball when the Kansas City Athletics moved west in 1968.\u00a0\u00a0 While baseball facilities around the major leagues have changed over the years, the Coliseum seems to have remained firmly rooted in the 1960s (or maybe as far forward as the 1970s).\u00a0 As a long-time Twins\u2019 fan who remembers the days of Metropolitan Stadium (original home to both the Twins and Vikings), my visit to the Coliseum was a somewhat nostalgic journey back in time.<\/p>\n Getting There<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n First, there\u2019s an old saying that \u201cGetting there is half the fun.\u201d\u00a0 Clearly not the case for many of today\u2019s urban ballparks. Driving downtown and finding a parking spot (particularly for a midweek day game) can be a frustrating and expensive experience. The good news<\/strong> in Oakland is that getting to the Coliseum is not likely to test your nerves. The ballpark is close to major freeway exits (off Interstate 880) and (like the old Metropolitan Stadium) has its own parking lot ($20).\u00a0 The ballpark is also accessible via BART, transit buses and even Amtrak has a Coliseum stop. Take public transport and you\u2019ll be traveling to and from the game with a host of other baseball fans.\u00a0 In short, the Coliseum is one of the most accessible ballparks around.<\/p>\n The Parking Lot<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Oakland experience starts in the parking lot.<\/p><\/div>\n BBRT suggests that, to get the full Oakland A\u2019s experience, you drive to the game \u2013 and pack some food, beverages, music and, if possible, a barbeque grill. This, by the way, is a good news\/bad news situation. The good news<\/strong> is that, for many A\u2019s fans, the game-day \u00a0experience starts in the parking lot, where tailgating is energetic and popular. The bad news is that, while many MLB facilities have moved into downtown areas, or seen the nearby neighborhoods develop as pre- and post-game food, beverage and entertainment destinations, the Coliseum is firmly entrenched in an industrial park. The parking lot is, out of necessity, the pre-game destination of choice. Translation \u2013 Pretty much the only choice. \u00a0But, it can be a good one.<\/p>\n Our stroll from the \u201cD\u201d section of the lot again took me back to the early days of the Twins, when the Metropolitan Stadium parking lot would begin to fill up (and the celebration of baseball and Minnesota\u2019s short summer would move into full swing) well before game time. \u00a0As you cross the Coliseum\u2019s ample lot, you are pleasantly assailed by the smell of grilling sausages of all ethnicities and the sound of music of nearly all genres. Baseballs, softballs, bean bags and even an occasional football (the Oakland Raiders do share the stadium, after all) fill the air; green and gold Athletics gear provides the color; and an often booming base line is complemented by plenty of laughter and animated baseball conversation. All of this works to get fans truly \u201cready\u201d for the game ahead.<\/p>\n Inside the Park<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Once inside the ballpark, there is again good news and bad news.<\/p>\n Good News<\/strong>: Ticket prices are reasonable (the A\u2019s are in the bottom-third of MLB in terms of average ticket prices and MLB Team Marketing Reports found the A\u2019s to have the sixth-lowest total cost for attending a game. We had great seats \u2013 between home plate and third base, just 26 rows from the field \u2013 for just $46 each.<\/em><\/p>\n More Good News:<\/strong>\u00a0 The grass is brilliant green, the ball stark white, the sky deep blue and the field in major league shape. Very simply, you are at a baseball game \u2013 what could be better (Okay, maybe a doubleheader)?<\/p>\n Bad News:<\/strong>\u00a0 The fact that the Coliseum is the only remaining stadium to serve an NFL and MLB team does baseball fans no favors.\u00a0 To reduce seating for baseball (the Coliseum holds approximately 63,000 for football and 35,000 for baseball), the A\u2019s have covered pretty much all of the upper deck seats with a green tarp that appears to have seen better days. (See the photo at the top of the post.)<\/p>\n Even the bullpens are “old school” at the Coliseum – located on the field in the ball parks wide foul territory.<\/p><\/div>\n Then there is the infamous (among A\u2019s fans) \u201cMount Davis.\u201d In 1996, additional seating (including luxury boxes) was added in centerfield (part of the efforts to lure the Raiders, who had fled Oakland for Los Angeles in 1982, back to Oakland). These added seats gave baseball fans a center field view worthy (or unworthy) of the stadium\u2019s industrial area location. Oakland fans I talked to reminisced about the previous outfield vista – the hills above the Coliseum – and referred to this outfield section as \u201cMount Davis\u201d (a negative reference to the late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis).<\/p>\n More Bad News:<\/strong>\u00a0 The stadium\u2019s concrete walls could use a good power washing (both outside and in the concourses) – and it wouldn\u2019t hurt to paint over the graffiti in the restrooms.<\/p>\n Food and Drink<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Good News<\/strong>: The A\u2019s have what is likely MLB\u2019s most fan- and family-friendly policy regarding outside food and beverage. You can actually bring in your own food and non-alcoholic beverages. The family of four sitting down the row from us had brought in two shopping bags full of goodies \u2013 from sandwiches to chips to soda (plastic bottles \u2013 no metal or glass containers).They were munching the whole game \u2013 and never reached for their wallets. (I was jealous \u2013 and it was a lesson learned for when I get back to Oakland.)<\/p>\n Bad News:<\/strong> If you don\u2019t bring in your own food, the choices (and ambiance) fall short of the unique fare and facilities at many ballparks. (I might be a bit spoiled by the food and facilities at Minnesota\u2019s Target Field – which you can read about by clicking here.<\/a>)<\/p>\n What could be more “old school” than a Malt Cup (with wooden spoon) balanced on an accurately kept scorecard.<\/p><\/div>\n Good News:<\/strong> \u00a0In January 2014, the Coliseum signed up with a new food service provider and food choices are said to be on the upswing. A few recommendations BBRT received from fans and A\u2019s staff: Visit the \u201cBar and Grille\u201d in section 215 (sit-down service there); Try the Brick Oven Pizza or Calzones; While at the ballpark, don\u2019t miss the Garlic Fries<\/em><\/strong>; If you like ribs, try Ribs & Things (section 104); You can fill up on the Super Chicken Nachos; The double corn dog is a winner. \u00a0For BBRT, a visit to the Coliseum cries out for traditional (old school) ballpark fare \u2013 hot dogs, polish sausages or brats; Cracker Jack; peanuts; malt cups (with wooden spoons); beer; and maybe a \u201cstretch\u201d to those Super Chicken Nachos \u2013 all eaten at your seat, while balancing an accurately maintained scorecard.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Good News:<\/strong>\u00a0 There are plenty of vendors working the aisles \u2013 and, unlike some ballparks, they didn\u2019t seem to disappear in the late innings.\u00a0 You don\u2019t really have to leave your seat (and scorecard) if you don\u2019t want to.<\/p>\n The Fans<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Good News:<\/strong>\u00a0 It\u2019s all good news here. A\u2019s fans are knowledgeable, loud and love their baseball and their team. They appreciate and applaud good plays by the home team and <\/em>visiting team, heckle with gusto when appropriate and seem to spend less time on their smart phones than fans I\u2019ve seen at other ball parks. While they are more than willing to express their frustration with the early portion of the 2015 season, they are also quick to acknowledge (and point out) that the A\u2019s have a pretty consistent record of success \u2013 and a reputation for getting the most out of their budget and players. (And, they\u2019re right about that. The A\u2019s can look back to first-place finishes in 1971-72-73-74-75-81-88-89-90-92-2000-02-03-06-12-13 and, in 2014, made the post season as an AL Wild Card team). In short, the A\u2019s have a reputation for putting a consistently good team on the field. For more on that, rent the movie “Moneyball.”<\/p>\n Ultimately, while attending an Oakland A\u2019s home game may not be that \u201cpretty\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s likely to be a pretty good time. I\u2019m looking forward to my next California trip \u2013 and hoping the A\u2019s are in town. If you get out that way, I suggest taking in the Oakland A’s experience.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sunday, May 17th, I took in a game at my 28th major league ballpark \u2013 as the Oakland Athletics took on the Chicago White Sox at Oakland\u2019s O.co (Overlook.com) Coliseum \u2013 and while (at many levels) it wasn\u2019t very pretty, for a baseball fan, it was a pretty good time. The A\u2019s came into the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11,5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n<\/a>BBRT Note: Three days after this game, the A\u2019s hired former Twins\u2019 infielder (and former A\u2019s coach and \u00a0Rangers\u2019 Manager) Ron Washington<\/strong><\/span> to work with the A\u2019s players on their defense. Washington played six seasons with the Twins and also played in the majors with the Dodgers, Orioles, Indians and Astros. In addition, he was an A\u2019s coach for eleven seasons (1996-2007) and managed the Rangers for eight seasons \u2013 taking the team to its first World Series in 2010.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>Bad News:<\/strong>\u00a0 BBRT, as regular readers know, likes to try (and then rate) the Bloody Mary offerings at each ball park.\u00a0 The Herradura Bar (Section 126) was recommended as a good spot to order up the prerequisite beverage.\u00a0 How was it?\u00a0 Look at the photo to the left. Enough said, back to beer and peanuts. For a look at some other ballpark Bloody Marys, click here<\/a>, here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n