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 Submitted By:
Hal Borkowski Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: 1. The fans. Core of loyal and
knowledgeable people who have interesting opinions. You can learn a
lot about the team and baseball talking with the people around you
during a pitching change.
2. The field. It is probably the best playing surface in the AL
and certainly no worse than one of the top three. You can count on
true bounces and good footing for a well played game. The grass is
mowed in a pattern. Seeing it as you come into the seats is always
a thrill. There is a huge foul ground which makes it a good
pitcher's park and puts a premium on fielding. Teams really play
good ball here.
There are three or four fireworks games a year that they let you out
onto the outfield for. It is like a putting green.
3. The Guest relations staff. These people are always friendly and
welcoming.
4. The weather, but the sun can be hot. Bring your sunblock.
5. The staging of the games. There are some nice facilities for
kids, but there is not the kind of entertainment that makes you
wonder if you came to a ballpark or an amusement park.
Cons of the ballpark: 1. Mount Davis. A huge concrete block
across the outfield built to expand seating capacity for the
raiders, it destroyed a pretty view of tHe Oakland Hills.
2. Sound system. Blurry, loud in a bad sense.
3. Scoreboards. Last generation.
4. Food service. Stand in one line for a hotdog, another line for
fries, any line for beer. There are some really good things, but
you have to search them out. When ticket sales are down for a game,
many of the more interesting stands stay closed. Good barbecue in
the left field corner, field level. Good take out bar at the
homeplate end of the West Side club. Femme food: vegetables,
chicken; but a well-fed woman is a happy woman and you enjoy the
game more. Deli Sandwiches and lattes behind home plate, field
level.
5.Sun seats are hot. You will fry if you aren't careful. Night
games can be cool for two reasons: Bay area weather makes July and
August evenings cool and damp, (September/October is absolutely
great.) But the stadium really is a big concrete pile, and it can be
dank.
6. Sharing with the Raiders. Football stands are not on wheels.
They take a long time to set up and so they are left up when the A's
are on the road. It kills the outfield grass.
Additional Comments: I can compare the Coliseum to old
Cleveland Muni, Shea, Wrigley before the lights, Old Comiskey,
Candlestick and whatever the Giants' house is called today. I'd
rather be at the Coliseum to watch a ballgame.
Submitted By: Tony Grade: D
Pros of the ballpark: The pro's is that the atmosphere is
definitely family-friendly (well depends where you sit). The
ballpark haves fans involved with games like dot-racing and etc. I'm
an die hard A's fan so I gave this a better grade than it should
really have but I still love going to this place. The food is great
and the space for parking is another pro. BART is a great
transportation to the games.
Cons of the ballpark: Well the security is the worst in the
league. I had a few problems with them simply because they really
think they can control you and they also act like you cant root for
your team. Other than that, just look at it. The Raiders destroyed
it by moving back to Oakland. The parking is ridiculous ($14) for
what!!! Oh and the field looks horrible and see affect the players
after a Raider game. Alot of fights and things happen in the
bleachers nowadays so expect ALOT of security to be in the
bleachers.
Additional Comments: I still call it the O.co Coliseum,
and so does everybody else in Oakland. Like I said I'm a A's fan so
I gave it a D, but I really hope the A's finally get that park
somewhere in the bay area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted By: Joe Larrea Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: This Ballpark has wonderful Weather,
its usually sunny and doesn't have much wind. Seats are easy to come
by since it's such a large park. It's easy to enter and exit the
ballpark since the parking lot leads directly to the freeway. The
food is great, and there's always a bender some were around. The
area were the O.co Coliseum is located contains all three major
sports. The Raiders and Athletics play at the Coliseum, and the
Warriors play at the other end of the parking lot.
Cons of the ballpark: The one Big problem with the
O.co Coliseum is the sun. On day games the sun shines directly over head
and could really be an inconvenience. If you wear a baseball cap
your face will be alright but the back of your neck will get fried.
So it will be best to Wear a bucket Cap. Also they serve food in
massive quantities, which is only a problem to only certain people.
Additional Comments: The O.co Coliseum is a awesome
ballpark and it's a shame that it will soon be replaced.
Submitted By: Ketchup Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: The stadium is so big so tickets aren't
hard to come by and a lot of seats are empty. Me and my dad always
just come and get same-day bleacher tickets. then we just sit in a
few empty 1st or second deck seats (until we get kicked out by the
real owners of the seats. Food is great and well priced. I am a long
time A's fan and i know all the chants, all the sayings and so does
every other fan in the park. the fans are great. they are so loud at
times I cant hear my friends yell to me 2 seats away. This is a
great park
Cons of the ballpark: MOUNT DAVIS!!!!! it ruined the
stadium!! it makes it so ugly. the design is boring. the seats are
hard. but as a diehard fan like me, you get over those things. the
buildings around it are not too good either. like others have said
in day games the sun beats down on you hard. the best seats for
those days is where the second deck overhangs the first one.
Additional Comments: The only thing truly wrong is mt. davis
and the sun. if you are going to go there RIDE BART!
Submitted By: D. Twomlby Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: The Coliseum has a great field for a
multipurpose park that is free of clutter like the newer "retro"
parks. The concourses are large and fairly clean. The food and beer
selection is great and it is all good food for the price (They have
$1 hotdogs). The tickets are very cheap and there is alot of
parking. The park also has a very open feel too it because of it
being a very wide open park as opposed to tall, and they keep the
lights on 6 big standards instead of all around the rim.
Cons of the ballpark: The Mt. Davis addition in center field
doesn't mesh with the rest of the park. The old bleacher were
better.
Additional Comments: Probably the nicest multipurpose park in
Baseball.
Submitted By: Tubbs Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: the fans are the very best there! the
drummers add a lot to the crowd, but with or without them, they have
very, VERY loyal fans, ranging in ages from 0-100...literally! and
it's always interesting to read the hundreds of signs that are
brought to the park! the food there is awesome (especially the big
dog!). Oakland has a great atmosphere to it! (unlike it's pompous
boring fans across the bay).
Cons of the ballpark: The restrooms could've been a bit
cleaner.
Additional Comments: Great stadium, great fans, great food,
and great team! what more can you ask for?
Submitted By: Brian Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: The bleachers are rockin', with the
drummers, other involved fans, and I like how they're elevated well
above the field (you feel closer to home plate than at other parks).
No seat is too high (not counting Mt. Davis seats that are seldom
sold) and hardly any obstructed views, unlike most of the newfangled
parks. Plus seat prices are super cheap, and you can usually sit
wherever you want (except the first level) because there aren't many
people there.
Cons of the ballpark: You can't see parts of the outfield
from the bleachers, there is a walkway in front of the 3rd deck
seats that block your view if you're in the first few rows, Mt.
Davis is ugly. Plus there's a lot of foul territory down the lines.
Additional Comments: Not the prettiest ballpark, but great
fans at a low price can't be beat. Better than any other
multipurpose stadium.
Submitted By: Brooke M. Maas Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: The ballpark is fantastic!! I love
going to the network associates coliseum. The environment is
incredible, but the fans, man are the fans great! I have NEVER seen
such devoted fans (Giants fans should take advice from the Oakland
fans)! The prices for everything are also great (food, tickets, and
souvenirs)! The Athletics may not be the best team in baseball
(there on their way) but at least they have one of the best
coliseums!
Cons of the ballpark: The only bad thing about the park is
its location. I know Oakland can be an ok place, during the day, but
at night its a little scary!
Additional Comments: I would like to commend the season
ticket holders, you are what makes the Oakland Athletics such a
great team.
Submitted By: Pat McAtee Grade: D
Pros of the ballpark: 1. Prices 2. Seating (1st & 2nd deck
only) 3. Westside Club 4. The staff. Especially the way they take
care of disabled fans. 5. BART
Cons of the ballpark: 1. Seating (3rd deck & bleachers) 2.
Mount Davis 3. Not much do after the ballgame in the neighborhood
Additional Comments: There are a number of other problems NOT
associated directly with the park. 1. Bud Selig & his hit list. 2.
The City Council, Board of Supervisors & JPA (I used to think the
owners were a problem but, they have eased up a bit. Could it be the
hope of a downtown stadium?). Oakland needs a baseball only park. It
would help revitalize the downtown area, have neighborhood feel (Ala
Wrigleyville) to it and, help ensure the survival of baseball in
Oakland. I've been to Pac Bell and, it's nice but, Oakland can do
better.
Submitted By: Mike Boogie Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: The atmosphere is unbelievable,
especially when the Yankees, Red Sox, or Mariners come to town (the
big rivals). The drummers are always playing no matter what the
score is, even if the A's are down 10 runs. There are chants that
everyone in the Stadium knows, accompanied by special drum beats by
the outfield drummers. The food selection is very good, they have
Vegetarian options and low fat meals as well as traditional ballpark
grub. The tickets are also really cheap. On Wednesdays you can buy a
good seat ticket, 5 hotdogs and 4 beers for just $10. Parking is
also very good and the restrooms are fine. Most of all though, the
people of Oakland and the East Bay love their team. Constant
tailgating parties and crazily dressed fans are the norm. The fans
are very loyal and very educated, and are obviously proud of the
success of their team despite having one of the lowest payrolls in
Baseball.
Cons of the ballpark: Mt. Davis does add that closed and ugly
look to the Stadium, and the whole thing really isn't glamorous at
all, but the team really makes up for the lack of eye candy.
Additional Comments: Good Ballpark.
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