The Bright Side of the Bay
The Oakland Athletics have a storied franchise history that began in Philadelphia, relocated to Kansas City in 1955, and ultimately settled in Oakland, California, in 1968. The historic move ushered in a new era of management under Bob Kennedy and marked a new period of Oakland dominance.
The Oakland-based squad has 18 playoff appearances – capturing the World Series championship title and Commissioner’s Trophy four times. In addition to their World Series success, the A’s have brought 6 league pennants back to the Bump City.
After fifth place finishes in back-to-back seasons, the Athletics look to return to American League prominence. Rajai Davis (center fielder), Sonny Gray (flamethrower), and Khris Davis (seasoned slugger) currently lead the team’s red-hot roster.
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Oakland acquired its moniker from a woodland of grand oak trees that once decorated the region. Oaklanders and foreign visitors alike spend their days immersed in the city’s vibrant art scene, vintage shops, historical sites, and America’s pastime, of course.
The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, which is often referred to as the Oakland Coliseum, is a multipurpose facility located in Northern California and is home to both the Oakland Athletics and Oakland Raiders. Although the A’s fell to the Baltimore Orioles (4-1) during their stadium debut in 1968, the stadium was jam-packed with an enthusiastic sea of more than 50,000 green and gold fanatics.
To immerse fans with the ultimate game day experience, stadium officials blocked off the seating sections of the upper decks in 2006 – drawing spectators closer to the field and dropping the capacity for major league showdowns to approximately 35,000 people. Along with a playoff run in mind, the A’s reopened the third deck during the 2017 season and raised the capacity crowd to accommodate over 47,000 fans.
After an approved vote initiated by the Oakland Raiders, the Raiders plan to relocate to Las Vegas. The impending departure of the Raiders signifies the last multipurpose stadium to host active MLB and NFL franchises.
While the Coliseum has served as a testament to time, the era of shared playing fields is approaching its demise as the ballpark boom continues to unfold across the league. That said, the A’s are canvassing with Oakland city officials for the construction of a modern-day venue coupled with a new location.
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
According to our heat map, the outfield fence lines are a designated home run hot spot for fans looking to snag that souvenir home run ball. Increase the odds of a long ball landing your way by cozying up just behind right and left field – or sections 135, 137, 145, 147, and 149 on the seating chart.
During the 2016 season, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum produced a jaw-dropping 149 home runs. The longest homer smoked off the bat of Danny Valencia – former fielder for the A’s – blasting the ball an impressive 451 feet.
Memories last a lifetime. That’s why it’s important to experience an MLB showdown at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum before it’s too late. Come prepared by heading over to Fanatics.com and gearing up with the latest green and gold merchandise and apparel in the league!
