Monday, June 14, 2021

The Best Damn Dive Stadium


This might be very personal and self-serving as I am going to talk about something I am passionate about and many people don't know why.

I got to attend my first A's game since September of 2019 this weekend. I went to both the Friday night and Saturday afternoon games. 

 I am a huge Oakland A's fan and have been basically all of my life. The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is where I have spent a large portion of my life watching A's games. I literally grew up there and my kids did also. A huge part of my history and my kids history has been written inside the walls of the place)

The A's have been trying to replace the Coliseum for years and the pedal is starting to really hit the metal. The Oakland City Council is scheduled to meet about the A's new stadium project at Jack London Waterfront next month. Not going into a whole of details but the A's have been given permission to look at other cities and reportedly have had meetings with Portland and Las Vegas. 

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum is showing its age, it is 55 years old and has it's problems. When the Raiders moved back in 1995, they built to what is referred to as Mt. Davis and it ruined the beautiful views that the stadium had of the Oakland Hills. 

It is the ultimate utilitarian stadium. It is not attractive but very useful. It has hosted baseball, football, soccer and the old Day on the Green concerts in its day.

I refer to it as a dump but I always say that "It's my dump and I love my dump," I recently said that on social media and someone I went to high school with decided to correct me and called it "best damn dive stadium" and after thinking about it I agree with it. The stadium is located in a sketchy part of town and the city of Oakland hasn't done anything to build up of the area with shops or restaurants (or anything)  in 55 years. Literally, if you take public transportation (like most A's fans) there is not a place to eat within walking distance (unless the cops are not around and the those illegal hot carts are on the BART ramp).

The cool thing is that once inside the place, magic happens. It is the closest to a Grateful Dead experience (I am not going to say what people use to smoke back in the 80's during night games in the third deck) in baseball. The fans are a tribe and stick together and welcome newbys as family members. In order to have a great time at the Coliseum you don't have to be an A's fan or even a baseball fan but have the ability to loosen up and have fun: 





The view from my seat during the day and night:


Out in center field is what is called Mt. Davis built in 1995 when the Raiders came back. It pretty much ruined the beautiful views of the Oakland Hills

And just some random stuff:

The cardboard cutouts they used last season. Joe DiMaggio actually was a coach for the A's 1968-1970 and the hot dog vendor is Tom Hanks who sold hot dogs at A's games in the mid-70's.

Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley who is an East Bay native


And a little game action:





And the giveaways were an African-American Heritage Shirt and an A's Pride Rally Towel



The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is so East Bay. People who have grown up in the East Bay of the  San Francisco Bay Area are so authentic, original and organic along with gritty and tough.  As she puts it "Authentic fans, not pretentious. Trying too hard-wanna 'appear trendy' folk." 

The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is the Last Dive Stadium left in a world that is all about being trendy, chic and catering to the chichi crowd. It is about having fun and letting the good times roll. 

15 comments:

  1. Great post. I can see why you love the place. My place was the Astrodome. For years I had "mini season tickets" about 16 games a year or about once a week and I loved it there and I got to know the people sitting close to me over the course of years. I ended up moving away and glad I did so I didn't have to see the stadium abandoned.
    Baseball is my go to for live sports. I live in Tulsa now and go to the Tulsa Drillers, the Dodgers AA Affiliate.

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  2. I know what you mean: even though the place looks like crap, you'd rather see a game there than anywhere else. After I left Chicago, the White Sox built a new ballpark and tore down the old one. I had spent many Sunday afternoons at the old one, and after the new one opened I went to a game there. It was nice, I admit, but just not the same.

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  3. I'm a Giants fan, but I'm one that thinks the A's need to stay in Oakland. I wish they can get their acts together and find a spot near or in the waterfront.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  4. Nice photos that stadium is huge bit like our Wembley :-)

    Have a goodgametastic week Patrick 👍

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  5. How cool that you were able to get to an A's game. It's been years since I've been to Coliseum.

    Hope you have a great week.

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  6. These are great photos and it's a fascinating story. That Tom Hanks reference was the cherry on top! Thanks for linking on Amanda's Books and More!

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  7. OMG How did you get these great pictures? All I can say you're a great photographer my friend. These are marvelous pictures. You sure know where to aim, and I thank you for sharing them with us. I hope you had a fantastic time. Did you catch any balls? Did you ever catch any? So cool. Anyway, I hope all is well with you & yours & thank you so much for sharing.

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  8. This is so cool. I would love to visit :) Pinned

    Thanks so much for joining us #TheWednesdayLinkUp

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  9. Been there many times and you're right. I love your new name for the stadium. I hope you get a new one and soon.

    Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous day, Patrick. ☺

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  10. Im glad that you got to attend the 2 games, that must be really Exhilarating! Thank you for sharing on Wonderful Wednesday weekly linkup!
    Have a great week!

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  11. I used to root for the A's when they were in KC, as I was born there and still have family there :)

    Thanks for choosing to share your link this week at 'My Corner of the World'!

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  12. I love the atmosphere in stadiums. Your passion certainly comes across. Thanks for linking up to #fortheloveofblog

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  13. Sounds like this was a much anticipated trip - hope you had fun! Thanks so much for sharing with #fortheloveofblog

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  14. Patrick, what a great tribute to the stadium that holds so many of your childhood memories and the memories of your children's childhood as well. It is such a special place. I hope they don't move your team far away from so many of its loyal fans.

    Shelbee
    www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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  15. It really is the best damn dive stadium EVER. I've been in it a few times years ago (yes, rooting for the A's of course!) and you're so right, it really is 'magical' inside. Love the shots! :)

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Love hearing comments on stuff. Please tell me what you think of the places I have been to. If you like them or not. I love comments.