Oakland Coliseum

Whenever my sister and I decide on a stadium to visit, we consider the city we would like to see, as well.  On these occasions, I am always thankful I live in the Bay Area so that I do not have to visit Oakland.

Yes, Oakland has its decent areas...I guess... but that is not where the ballpark is.  I don't mean to hate on Oakland or anything, but in terms of baseball-fun towns, this one falls a bit short.  If we were to visit the Bay Area, we'd end up staying in a hostel (yes, they have those in America) in San Francisco, and spend most of our time in the city (I mean, honestly, who wouldn't?), take BART to the Coliseum, and go back to the city.

If you plan to visit the Bay Area ballparks, that is what I recommend for you, as well.  San Francisco has plenty of things to do while not watching a live game of baseball.

View from the bleachers.

The Oakland Coliseum is old and might not be home to the A's for much longer.  Aside from college football games, this might be the only stadium I have ever tailgated in (when we haven't taken BART to it).

Since I know this stadium well, have sat in all different parts of it, and have been to this stadium than any other stadium (le sigh...), here is my list of pros and cons:

Pros

Visitors side.

A lot of people with this view are season ticket holders--but not all!

1. BART: (For those not familiar with the Bay Area, BART is the main system of public transportation connecting the different areas of the Bay Area.)  The Coliseum has BART attached to it, making it super easy to park at a station near your house, hostel, or hotel (or walk if any of these locations are close to one), and then walk through the cage, straight into the park.  I have even met up with friends who were tailgating in the parking lot.  You can also park in the BART parking lot for free and then walk in to the station, through the cage, into the park (also see Cons: The Neighborhood).
2. Seats/Cheap Seats: The nice thing about a big old park is that there are plenty of seats, and plenty of cheap seats.  Even after they've closed off the third deck (during the baseball season).  Promotions are common in any park nowadays, but compared to most parks, you can get pretty close (especially if you go to cheer on a visiting team and sit on that side) for much cheaper--and the tickets are usually available!  There has been a section of the third deck they open to people who want to pay in advance for a voucher for hotdogs and a beverage--and the chance to sit in the nosebleeds...  I wish they would just open another section for that to fill the regular seats of the park, but that's for another conversation.
3. Bullpen: If you like being close to the pitchers warming up, this is a great stadium for you.  The bullpen is right next to the dugouts.  If you're visiting while your team is in town, the visitors side will have plenty of open seats at a reasonable price.
4. Bleachers: You can sit in the bleachers of this ballpark and not have your view obstructed.  That seems to be changing with newer parks.
5. Fireworks Night: I don't know if every stadium does fireworks nights, but the A's have a great display.  They let anyone who wants to watch on the field on to the field (the outfield only), and then play music according to a theme: 80's music, Star Wars, etc.  The show lasts a while and it really impressive.  I highly recommend watching a game and then staying for the fireworks display on the nights that have them.

Cons:

"Jumbotron"

1. The Neighborhood: Looking to get a beverage with your friends/family around the park before or after the game?  Take BART elsewhere.  Drink it up in the parking lot.  Go to the park early.  But you won't find anything around the Coliseum where you would want to hang out.  If you park in the BART parking lot and then walk trough the cage into the park, make sure your car is empty, as I have heard stories of break-ins during the game.
2. Age:  The park is old and not the most attractive park in the country.  Since you spend several hours at the park, it should be aesthetically pleasing, too.  The Oakland Coliseum has none of that.
3. Jumbotron: Back in the day, the Oakland jumbotron was probably really cool.  But nowadays, it is tiny and not in HD.  Have I been too spoiled with other stadiums' impressive HD quality screens?  Most likely.  But this ballpark hasn't had an update in ages, and it shows everywhere, including the screen.

Old Cleveland Municipal: My First Park

 
I don't have much to say about Cleveland's old ballpark, but I might as well start with the ballpark from my earliest memories.  Cleveland Municipal was home to the Cleveland Indians in the 80's and early 90's (and before that, obviously), which is when I visited it.  Even though this stadium had nothing to brag about (not based on my own experiences as a child anyway), it was my first experience visiting any ballpark, and thus begins my list of stadiums.

The things I remember most from this stadium are the messy losses by the Indians.  I don't remember the stands ever being totally packed, nor do I remember celebrating home runs or wins very often.  I'm sure it happened.  I just don't remember it.

The team I remember was more like the movie's less successful days of ball...

This was my first ballpark, but definitely not my favorite one.  My favorite ballpark wouldn't be visited until 2007.  I will have to dig through my parents' cupboards to see if they still possess any souvenir cups from the games, but I doubt it... Maybe you have more vivid memories of this ballpark than I...?

My Goal

I don't know everything there is to know about baseball.  I don't play fantasy baseball.  I don't watch very many ballgames on TV.

But I sure do love baseball.

And watching a baseball game at the ballpark is one of my favorite ways to spend a day (or evening).  I love everything about being at a game from watching it to making friends to participating in the traditions.  Packed stadium?  Love it.  Hot sun?  Even better.  Extra innings?  Bring it on.

I've visited about sixteen ballparks so far, some retired, and I plan to write about them and share my experiences visiting them.  Since I do not swear allegiance to but one team, I cannot bring myself to buy any souvenir at the ballpark that has the team's emblem on it.  So my souvenir is always one of those $9 souvenir cups, usually with the season's schedule on it, originally filled with the beverage of my choice.  Whenever I use one of those cups at home, I remember the stadium and my day(s) spent at that park.  It's a good feeling.

Stadiums are can be really beautiful structures.  I like seeing the parks and comparing the way the stadium and its fans celebrate the game.

This blog will thus be about baseball, its stadiums, its teams, and its traditions.  I will have to catch up on the stadiums I've seen so far.  I hope you plan to visit some of these parks some day, too!