Category: Dailies
Sky High Ziggy Chats Online
While this item doesn’t have much to do with tickets, we think it’s pretty cool that Brad Ziegler will chat online today from 3-3:30pm. Fans can register now and the online chat is free. Be sure to ask the side-arm reliver if he did any loop-d-loops during his recent ride with the Blue Angels. Zooooom!
Giamback
Tower Of Power released an album in 1974 titled ‘Back to Oakland’, so we certainly understand if you spin this album over the next few days with the announcement of Jason Giambi’s return to the A’s in 2009. The Ticket Office was abuzz yesterday after the press conference with high-fives and phone calls. The excitement was not limited to just this office; the idea of the 2000 MVP and five time All-Star back in green and gold thrills many throughout the front office. Optimism is equally high. The recent acquisition of perennial All-Star Matt Holliday, coupled with the maturation of several younger players, will make the A’s an exciting and competitive team to contend for the 2009 AL West title.
Season Ticket Holders can renew ticket plans online at oaklandathletics.com/2009. Individual game tickets go on sale January 24. Please reach out to Ticket Services if you have any questions.
Early Bird Sweepstakes Kickoff
As part of our 2009 “Season Ticket Holder Sweepstakes”, Ticket Services hosted a Holiday Reception for fifty 2009 Season Ticket Holder’s at Pyramid Ale House in Berkeley on December 3rd. The winners of this unique prize in the sweepstakes enjoyed the company of A’s starting pitchers Dana Eveland and Gio Gonzalez, as well as broadcaster Ray Fosse and several members of the A’s front office staff.
The night began with appetizers and a rousing welcome from Steve Fanelli, Senior Director of Ticket Operations. Ray Fosse then officially christened the 2009 baseball season with a warm introduction of Dana and Gio. Whenever you hear Ray on the microphone, one can only think of warm summer days spent in the sun at the Coliseum, even if it is one week after Thanksgiving. Player’s and front office staff dined with Season Ticket Holders, who caught up on off-season plans as well as what is in store for the 2009 season. The highlight of the evening was the private chalk talk session with Ray, Gio and Dana where Season Ticket Holders had the chance to meet the players and interact on a personal level in a private locale.
Some interesting quotes from the chalk talk session:
Dana Eveland on earning the starting job at the beginning of the 2008 season:
“Bob (Geren, A’s Manager) and Billy (Beane, Vice President & General Manager) didn’t tell me throughout Spring Training that I was going to be starting. Actually, not until after the Japan games did I find out I had the starting job.”
Gio Gonzalez on his outlook on the 2009 season:
“I’m coming into this season with the mindset of us not only just reaching the playoffs, but winning a championship. On a personal basis, I wish I was thinking like this last year, but now that I have a year under my belt, I understand how focused I need to be.”
Dana Eveland on his childhood idol:
“As a kid I loved Nolan Ryan. I watched other pitchers but Nolan Ryan, the way he was such a warrior out there, I loved him. Even in Tee ball I was like ‘man I need to pitch like that.’ You know he’s got the raised arms and the high knee kick.
Ray Fosse jumps in:
“I faced Nolan Ryan; and that’s all I can say is that I faced him.”
Dana Eveland on shaking off A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki:
“I shook him off maybe three times all year. He’s probably my favorite catcher that I’ve thrown to in my entire life.”
We were happy to show our guests a great evening, and A’s staff look forward to opportunities such as these where we are able to speak to our fans on a more personal level in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. We’ll be selecting more winners throughout the off-season, so be sure to renew your plan by the Early Bird deadline. Stay tuned to the blog for more information, and good luck!
Early Bird Renewal Benefits Galore, Sweepstakes Prizes
New for 2009, the A’s are happy to introduce the Season Ticket Holder Sweepstakes! Below you will find details on the Sweepstakes and prizes, plus the return of popular Early Bird benefits. An account must be paid in full by December 5, 2008 to qualify for Early Bird offers.
New in 2009!
SEASON TICKET HOLDER SWEEPSTAKES
Only A’s Season Ticket Holders have the ability to win hundreds of unique and otherwise unavailable prizes. See a list of prizes below. No registration is necessary. All accounts paid in full will automatically be entered in the sweepstakes. Each account will be awarded one entry. In addition, for every $1,000 invested in 2009 Season Tickets, an additional entry will be granted. (For example, a $10,000 ticket package will receive 11 entries in the sweepstakes.)
Grand Prize
ALL-STAR GAME. Trip for two (2) to the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis. Two roundtrip airline tickets from the Bay Area to St. Louis, one hotel room, and two game tickets to the Homerun Derby and All-Star Game July 13-14, 2009 will be awarded to one lucky A’s Season Ticket Holder. Trip presented by Sports Travel and Tours.
First Prize
COOPERSTOWN. Trip for two (2) to the 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Two roundtrip tickets from the Bay Area to New York, one hotel room, and two tickets to the enshrinement ceremony on July 26, 2009. Trip presented by Sports Travel and Tours.
Additional Prizes
GOLF FOURSOME. Winner receives a complimentary foursome in the 2009 A’s Community Golf Fund Tournament. Multiple prizes available.
OWNER’S SUITE OUTING. Winner and 17 guests enjoy an A’s game from the comforts of the Owner’s Suite. A’s pre-determined food, beverage, merchandise included. Multiple prizes available.
PLAYER MEET & GREET. Winner and guest attend a meet and greet with an A’s player. Multiple prizes available.
CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH. Winner throws out first pitch to mutually agreeable A’s game. Multiple prizes available.
PRE-GAME FIELD VISIT. Winner receives four passes to watch batting practice from the field. Multiple prizes available.
MVP TICKET UPGRADES. Winner upgrades to first row behind visitor’s dugout for mutually agreeable A’s game. Multiple prizes available.
COMPLIMENTARY MEAL IN WESTSIDE CLUB. Winner sent voucher for dinner in Westside Club at Oakland Coliseum. Multiple prizes available.
VIP PARKING PASS. Winner upgraded to park in VIP Parking Lot. Multiple prizes available.
SCOREBOARD MESSAGE. Winner awarded full screen Diamond Vision message during an A’s game. Multiple prizes available.
AUTHENTIC A’s MERCHANDISE. Winner receives A’s merchandise. Multiple prizes available.
AUTOGRAPHED A’s MEMORABILIA. Winner receives autographed A’s memorabilia. Multiple prizes available.
AND MANY MORE PRIZES…
Qualifying amount does not include parking, additional tickets, or handling fees. Current Season Ticket Holders must retain the same number of seats as they had in 2008 in the same or comparable plan to be eligible or qualify for any Early Bird benefits or sweepstakes.
Back By Popular Demand!
FREE TICKETS
All accounts paid in full will receive a complimentary ticket voucher for two (2) Field Infield ticket to an A’s home game at the Coliseum during the months of April and May (excluding April 10, April 13-15, and May 23).
EARLY BIRD SUITE
All accounts with a ticket value of $1,500 and higher qualify for an Early Bird Luxury Suite. The Early Bird Suite includes 18 tickets and is deeply discounted at a price of only $200 (that’s $1,300 off). Limit one suite per account. Qualifying amount does not include parking, additional tickets, or handling fees. Some restrictions apply. All suites must be booked by 7/31/09. Qualifying accounts will receive a suite sign-up sheet in the in the coming months to select a game date.
Qualifying amount does not include parking, additional tickets, or handling fees. Current Season Ticket Holders must retain the same number of seats as they had in 2008 in the same or comparable plan to be eligible or qualify for any Early Bird benefits or sweepstakes.
(Photos Copyright Travis LoDolce)
A’s to Invoices “Yer OUT!”
A month of preparation arrived with invoices hitting the post office this afternoon. Yes, renewal invoices were mailed out to all 2008 Season Ticket Holders packed full of 2009 ticket info goodness. You will find a ticket brochure, information regarding Early Bird renewal, a letter from A’s President Michael Crowley, Fielder’s Choice plan game selection form (for guests with said plan), and- of course- your 2009 renewal invoice. Prices did not increase from 2008 ticket costs. You can renew via mail by using the included return envelope, or you can phone us at (510) 568-5600. Online renewal is an option through your My A’s Tickets account. Haven’t used My A’s Tickets? It’s simple. Login using your Season Ticket account number. Your initial password is your account Zip Code. Visit the “To Do” page and renew online. You’re done in minutes. Online renewal reaps the added reward of complimentary MLB.com Gameday Audio. Beginning in March accounts will receive a registration email from MLB.com. Renew your account for the 2009 season by December 5, 2008 to qualify for Early Bird benefits. This season we introduce a Season Ticket Holder Sweepstakes offering trips to the All-Star Game in St. Louis and the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Seriously, Cooperstown! We hear a certain stolen base king is on the ballot this year.
Can Ticket Services answer any ticket related questions for you? We have a hotline- (510) 568-5600. We have an email- tickets@oaklandathletics.com. Or just post in the comments below.
We’re excited for 2009 already. Reading various post-season publications the A’s farm system is raved about, a wealth of pitchers and some interesting hitters. Coupled with some of the young men in the bigs who gained experience in 2008, future seasons already generate a buzz. Reminds a few of us of the 1998 and 1999 seasons. How’d we do in the new millennium?
All Quiet On The Western Front? Hardly
Not a single blog last week. You must think we were out. Or idle. But au contraire, we’ve been busy. The Ticket Operations offseason is typically more busy than during the season. Sure the days of summer are long, working from morning-to-night, and seven day work weeks are common place. The foundation, however, is secure. Improvement projects can be the focus while the ticket machine moves along. In the offseason the focus is building that foundation. It is a tedious process. Checking, re-checking, cross-checking. Investigating new forms of communication and technology, and how to implement, to better serve our guests. The development process is the focal point and it requires a lot of attention to administer.
This week we continue to prepare the 2009 ticketing system, invoices and information, online renewal capabilities, and Spring Training details. Soon you will have all of this information at your finger tips, via the internet and in paper form thanks to our friends at the U.S. Postal Service. But what do you prefer? Renewal information by traditional mail or an email reminder with details hosted at oaklandathletics.com? Many of us in the office welcome and explore opportunities to bank online. Are you much the same? Or is baseball, a traditional game by many standards, a notice that you want in a traditional method? If the web savvy could have just one choice- postal or email- which do you decide?
Cactus Crazy, A Spring Training Update
We’ve received a number of questions in the past few weeks regarding requests for Spring Training information. Love it! Phoenix Muni is a terrific ballpark in an outstanding area. It’s not far from downtown Phoenix, about a mile from the heart of ASU in Tempe, and a very short drive from Scottsdale. The Papago Park training facility is just a mile or two up the road from Phoenix Muni. And the A’s, with a wealth of young prospects, should be a ton of fun to watch. It’s no wonder fans are already excited for Spring Training. Here’s where we stand on Spring Training…
* We’re awaiting a complete schedule. Expect A’s games in Arizona to commence Wednesday, February 25, 2009, with the first home game at Phoenix Muni on February 27. Arizona games will end Wednesday, April 1. Hope to have a complete schedule to share by mid-October. Expect about 18 home games.
* There is no change in pricing for A’s Spring Training in 2009. Prices will remain the same as 2008. Season Tickets are available for the full Spring Training duration. Group tickets (at least 20 guests) are available, often at a discount. Luxury Suites and a pre-game BBQ area are available for rent too. Current Spring Season Ticket Holders should receive renewal information in early November. Email spring@oaklandathletics.com or phone (510) 568-5600 with questions.
* The A’s do not book travel packages directly with the team. Sports Travel and Tours can assist you with all of your travel package needs at sportstravelandtours.com.
Does this information help? More is on the way soon! So start dreaming of springtime Arizona weather as rain permeates the Bay Area forcasts for this weekend.
AFAC Email: We Got One!
2009 Schedule, Ticket Prices. Hooray!
The Oakland Athletics, and all of Major League Baseball, announced the 2009 Season Schedule today. The Oakland Athletics, uniquely, announced 2009 Ticket Pricing as well. 2009 ticket prices will not increase from 2008 ticket prices.
Improving Customer Service
Yesterday afternoon the A’s Ticket Services staff and Box Office Manager traveled into San Francisco for a BAPTA organized event titled “Spirit In Service.” BAPTA is Bay Area Professional Ticketing Association. Numerous venues in the Bay Area are members of BAPTA including symphonies, theater venues, and- among professional sport teams- the A’s, Giants, and Warriors.
A's Ticket Services 