While visiting Northern California for a graduation, a stop by the Coliseum was a must see. With the history that has taken place in this venue, I admit I really wanted to visit this stadium.
The game that I secured tickets for was a match-up between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs the Oakland Athletics.
Here are my thoughts on Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
Pros
The historic displays outside of the stadium representing the A’s is something that is impressive. I didn’t know that they had won 9 World Series championships in their team history. They share a parking lot and walkway with Oracle Arena that is home to the 5 time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors.
The Coliseum offers an assortment of stadium foods that are traditional but also specific to the Bay Area. The loaded helmet nachos were my favorites and didn’t cost much based on the product. The concessions in general do not cost much so you can definitely eat what you want and not spend too much.
The fan support for the A’s is very strong as they were there in large numbers for a Wednesday day game. This was the most fans I have witnessed for a day game in all of my traveling. They were into the game and getting at the umpires and opposing players. They also got at their own players for their mishaps in the game.
Accessing the Coliseum is very easy and affordable. There is a BART station right across from the Coliseum and Lyft and Uber frequent the area picking up fares around the clock. The ticket pricing was very affordable based on seat location. I purchased two tickets for under $60 that were on row 2 and adjacent to first base.
Cons
The neighborhood surrounding the Coliseum is bare and doesn’t offer anything for fans attending the games. There are no bars or restaurants in the sight view of the stadium. The stadium itself is on its last leg and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
The stadium doesn’t offer much outside of the teams that hit the field. There was visible duct tape on the stadium steps to cover rust spots and cracks in the structure. The venue is rather large and doesn’t give off a baseball vibe once inside of it.
Overall Game Day Experience
I would give Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum a 7 out of 10. The history of the venue coupled with the fans provides a great baseball experience. The Coliseum itself is outdated and needs to be repaired or replaced. There is not much in the surrounding area of the Coliseum that makes it a destination for fans.
The concessions and tickets are affordable for fans and transportation to and from the Coliseum is not hard to find. If you find yourself in the Bay Area, give the Coliseum a visit even if it’s just for the historical purposes.
