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It’s the 7th Inning Stretch, at The Final Oakland A’s Game. The entire stadium stands, belting out the famous, “Take me Out to the Ballgame.” Some sing joyously, a slight hint of defiance in their tone. Some have tears in their eyes. Everyone is aware that this is the last time they will sing in unison for the their beloved, baseball team. The magnitude of the moment, hangs heavy, as the last lyrics ring out…at the old…ball….game… The applause is thunderous, acknowledging this significant day in baseball history.
Why is this the Last Game?
The Athletics are a nomadic team. Assembled in 1901, their first home was Philadelphia. In 1955, they moved to Kanas City, playing there until 1968, when they moved to The Coliseum, in Oakland, California.
There are countless articles, posts, and videos, that deep dive into the politics, money, and corruption, that caused the team’s current move. I’m here to describe our stadium experience, but the short of it is, The Coliseum is an outdated stadium. The team and fans wished for a new Oakland, baseball park. The ball is dropped on this pursuit, so in sweeps Las Vegas, offering the A’s a sparkly new, state of the art, dome covered, ballpark, if they relocate to Las Vegas. Deals are made, and here the crowd gathers, to bid the Oakland A’s farewell.
Getting There
A special thanks to the Ballpark Stampeders Facebook Group. We don’t need a car for our stay in San Francisco. Our original plan is to take a rideshare to the stadium, but when I pose this to the Ballpark Stampeders Group, the consensus is, take the train. Trusting my fellow baseball park enthusiasts, we take the BART public transportation system. The train and station are clean and easy to navigate. Due to the epic nature of the day’s event, there is ample security in the station. The train is packed with Athletics fans. When the doors open, the crowd funnels into a fenced, pedestrian, bridge.
It’s a compact area, where feet hustle forward, keeping the flow of body-traffic moving.
Outside of the Stadium
This is not an ordinary game. It sold out months ago. We arrive early. The line to get into the stadium is miles long. The line goes on, and on, and on, until we finally find the end. Thankfully there is plenty of entertainment to keep line-waiters occupied. There are photo ops, live music, and food.
If you live in the Bay-Area, the multitude of bacon-wrapped hotdog carts, are an everyday occurrence, but I am absolutely fascinated. So many carts. So many bacon wrapped hotdogs.
The Stamp
When we visit other ballparks, we are the only Ballpark Book stampers, approaching the stamp desk. The Final Oakland A’s Game has a long stamp line.
Word got out that one could acquire a stamp that 100% proves, you attended the final game. Though the stamps are meant for the official stamp book, line-standers get everything from game tickets to napkins, stamped. A feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment, washing over us as stamp touches paper. This will forever be a rare stamp.
It’s worth the line.
The Stadium
Built in 1966, The Coliseum has been home to the Oakland A’s since 1968. It was built as a multipurpose stadium, hosting football and baseball games, until the Oakland Raiders, absconded to Las Vegas. Though millions of dollars were invested in updating The Coliseum, it continues to show its age. The stadium looms like a concrete monstrosity.
The drab, cinderblock halls wind around like a maze.
It lacks the picturesque, open air, design, of modern day baseball parks. I understand why a new stadium is desired. I imagine it’s hard to sit in this stadium and watch a game, knowing the Giants, gorgeous, Oracle Park, is so close. What the stadium lacks in aesthetics, the fans make up for in enthusiasm. I even get a picture with one of Oakland’s #1 fans.
The Food
Since this is The Final Oakland A’s Game, we walk the entire stadium. During our wander, we note all of the food choices. I research ahead of our visit to figure out the thing, to eat at The Coliseum. The most popular recommendation, don’t eat at The Coliseum.
It’s a sold out game. The walkways are tight. As travel enthusiasts, we are not adverse to crowds. They come with the territory, but this is next level. It’s bumper to bumper people. At times we are not moving at all and are completely surrounded and touching shoulders with people.
Instead of attempting to make multiple laps in search of sustenance, we hop in line for sausage sandwiches.
They are fine. It’s hard to judge since our sausage sandwich bar was set high during our visit to Target Field in Minnesota.
Since we’re part of baseball history, we also purchase a historic, baseball, food.
Once seated, we are reluctant to throw ourselves back into the mob, so these items are our only food, except of course for…
Ice Cream in a Helmet
Since we enjoy ice cream and collecting the helmets, our new routine is to find, and eat, helmet ice cream first. The sign for The Creamery is large and the line is shorter than most of the food and alcohol lines.
It’s basic soft serve. Vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. It’s The Final Oakland A’s Game, so I’m sure top-notch concessions, on the very last day, are not a priority. At some point during the season, they ran out of official ice cream helmets, so we receive a white helmet with gold A’s stickers.
Final Game Fun
The Final Oakland A’s Game, comes with extra, complementary, souvenirs. First, we get a souvenir ticket.
Upon receiving our ticket, we are handed a voucher for a miniature replica of The Coliseum. The note on the voucher states that the free replicas will be handed out after the game, while supplies last.
Some fans are filled with nostalgia. In between innings, the team’s longest lasting fans are interviewed. One man was at the Oakland A’s very first game. He’s been a season pass holder ever since, and is here at the last game. He gets misty as he shares his love for the team and the memories he made in The Coliseum.
Other fans are filled with anger and disappointment over their Oakland team, moving to Las Vegas. There are obscenity laden chants directed toward the team’s owner. There are also an abundance of last- game signs/posters, and t-shirts. Some are thankful for the memories while others express negative feelings towards the A’s current owner and situation.
We were nervous about what might happen when the game ends. Will the fans riot? Set the stadium ablaze? Start tearing up the stadium? Our minds race with scenarios, we’re Philadelphia sports fans after all. We are no strangers to sports chaos. Despite dissatisfaction with the situation, the worst that happens are gentle shenanigans. Giant inflatable balls, bounce through the crowd, confiscated by security, only when landing on the field.
Several individuals, run out on the field. The audience cheers for the first runner, but the cheers turn to boos, for each subsequent runner. The Oakland A’s are winning, and the game is paused, each time security has to tackle the culprit. The same situation occurs with a smoke-bomb thrower. It’s clear the prankster’s plan is to throw three smoke bombs onto the field. One white, one gold, and one green bomb. Once again, the crowd applauds the first smoke bomb, but is annoyed, each time, the play is stopped, so security can clear smoke from the field.
The Oakland A’s win!
They beat the Texas Rangers. Fans are on their feet. Voices erupts in cheers. There are high fives and hugs. Fans launch celebratory, toilet paper roll streamers. No one dismantles (though someone did try a few days before) the seats or smashes up The Coliseum. The moment is too important. Being part of baseball history is too significant to ruin it with chaos and destruction.
In honor of The Final Oakland A’s Game, there are speeches on the field. We skip the speeches, imagining a large line forming for the replica Coliseums. Oakland is astonishingly organized. They move replica collectors through the queue, quickly.
Miniature Coliseums in hand, the human sea moves toward the train. Keeping up with the flow, I can only catch glimpses of the numerous bacon wrapped hot dog carts, knock-off merch tables, and coolers loaded with beer, lining the pedestrian bridge. There are also buyers, already calling out offers for replica Coliseums.
Security stands guard in the train station. Their friendly directions point individuals to the correct escalators.
Conclusion
During our visit, I understand why Oakland needs a new stadium. It’s outdated, especially compared to the newer, bright, modern, open-air ballparks.
The Athletics will play in a minor league stadium, in Sacramento, while waiting for their dazzling, Las Vegas dome, to be completed.
Though we expect chaos, The Final Oakland A’s Game, ends up being a show of passion and
comradery. Hearts are melancholy witnessing not only the last baseball game in the city, but the last professional sports game. All of Oakland, California’s professional sports teams, have now left the city.
Sports is a bonding agent, bringing people together and igniting hope. It feels on this day that Oakland has lost some of their hope for the city.
As we travel, visiting baseball parks, we like to stay incognito. We are not the type of Phillies fans who announce our presence in someone else’s home. We do our best to blend in
with the home team. On this day, we are privileged to join in the laughter and tears, as we root, root, root for The Oakland A’s, one last time.
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