Tagged: Oakland A's
Phoenix Fly By
Hard to believe the Spring Training season has just one week remaining. Over the past few weeks the A’s have played some great baseball, upping the ante in the American League West. Since we’re mostly focused off the field perhaps you’d take a stroll with us around Phoenix Muni and even on a road game?
Triplets Sela, Ari, and Alex, better known to fans as TripleFire!, jam outside the main entrance to Phoenix Muni as guests enter. You can see them play again this Friday, March 27 around 6pm as the A’s host the Padres at Muni for a rare 7:05pm night game.
Inside the ballpark a couple of the newest A’s take batting practice. Nomar Garciaparra and Orlando Cabrera fist bump when they exchange spots in the cage.
Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins visits with Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Joe Torre in the visiting dugout prior to the game. Jenkins later signs autographs on the concourse for donations to his charitable fund. Joe Torre signs copies of his new book for Jenkins’ fund.
Glen, A’s fan of the game, tosses the ceremonial first pitch. Steee-rike!
Visiting the A’s on a road game, we watch Mark Ellis take a pitch inside for a ball at the Indians’ ballpark in Goodyear.
In the seats we spark up the conversation with friendly A’s fans. Sue and Tom from the Bay Area share some of their experiences at Spring Training.
Tom tell us, “Our trip to see the A’s in Arizona is our first robin of the spring — we try never to miss it. We love the associations and friendships we’re building — and the instant camaraderie a team jersey supplies with friend and baseball foe. We stopped at a restaurant in Palm Springs and immediately struck up a conversation with some young guys in Dodger Blue — the common language of baseball made the introductions automatic and the friendly exchange irresistible. Or the Rockies fan at the motel who came over to tell us what a steal we got in Matt Holliday. We also enjoy the head start we get on seeing the team’s prospects — “the young talent” as Sue says – because the stats alone just can’t substitute for seeing them ‘live.'” Thanks Tom and Sue! We’ll see you in Oakland.
And speaking of die-hard fans. Who should we find in left field? The Oakland Left Field Bleacher Crew. With flags and all. Thanks for A’s love folks.
See you back in Oakland before we all know it. First game at the Coliseum is Saturday, April 4 @ 1:05pm. The Giants visit for the annual Bay Bridge Series.
The home opener is a Friday night game! Pretty sweet, no? The Mariners come to town on Friday, April 10. Game time at 7:05pm.
Finally, this will eventually be a separate blog entry, the A’s host a free event on Sunday, April 5 from 11am to 3pm. Fan Appreciation Workout Day features the full A’s 25-man roster before the team departs to Anaheim to start the season. Parking and entry are complimentary to all fans. A great way to jump into the A’s baseball season.
Update from the Road
Major League Baseball is in full “swing.” Though not locally just yet. A’s Spring Training is seven home games deep at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Arizona. The United States has two wins in the World Baseball Classic. And A’s Ticket Services is involved with both.
Deadline Day
A friendly reminder… today is the final day to guarantee your reserved seat location for the 2009 A’s baseball season. Renew your A’s ticket plan today to ensure you receive the commemorative ticket stock which arrives bound in a booklet featuring all of your season tickets (another year of the commemorative tickets looking great!).
New Ticket Employees: Buck, Eveland, Sweeney
Late last week A’s Ticket Services received a visit from three faces more familiar with the field than the phones. A’s outfielders Travis Buck and Ryan Sweeney and pitcher Dana Eveland dropped by to call A’s Season Ticket Holders.
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?
Four Game Homestand Sets Up Labor Free Day
The A’s return home tonight for a brief four game homestand against Minnesota after a three city road trip that concluded with last night’s thrilling win over Anaheim. Can you recall another single series homestand against one team? Dana Eveland takes the mound in the series opener tonight at 7:05 PM, and there are great giveaways throughout the holiday weekend. Take advantage of the warm weather by coming out to McAfee Coliseum to see your 2008 Oakland Athletics.
Upon entry to Friday’s game, receive a Jack Cust Bobblehead, which is available to 15,000 fans. As if that wasn’t incentive enough to arrive early, there will be a special pre-game presentation to Brad Ziegler, who just broke a 101-year-old record by starting a career with 39 1/3 scoreless innings pitched.
Upon completion of Saturday night’s game, we invite you to come down to the outfield grass where you can watch our third fireworks show of the season. Bring that special someone because the theme of Saturday night’s show is “Duets”. We have word from a well-placed source that this show is going to be “awesome.”
Sunday’s series finale begins at 1:05 PM and 7,500 kids will receive a Back-to-School backpack. Your child may dread going back to school, but at least they can go in style. Kids that stay for the whole game are invited to the Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky’s Post-Game Race Around the Bases. Baseball pants and high socks are strictly optional.
The A’s won’t play a game on Labor Day for the first time since we can remember. This provides us with a free day to sleep in, boulder, BBQ by the pool, head to the dog park, and enjoy any other “labor free” activities that we fancy. What do you plan to do with your baseball free/office free day?
Months and Weeks in the Season
The A’s Ticket Services Office received a few choice emails and phone calls in the past 24 hours. Only a few of the “You Stink” variety. RHP Rich Harden was traded yesterday to the Chicago Cubs, along with pitcher Chad Gaudin. While news stories report most about the known quantities, we are happy to receive Sean Gallagher and friends. Any player that our Baseball Operations Department identifies as a desire must be positive (see: Mark Ellis, Dana Eveland, Greg Smith, Carlos Gonzales, Ryan Sweeney… all starting A’s players acquired from trades).
But rather than focus on the two players that departed, we’re excited about the four new members of the A’s family that came from the Cubs. Not to forget a fifth new addition to the A’s that stopped by McAfee Coliseum yesterday, recent first-round draft pick Jemile Weeks. Weeks signed his first professional contract with the A’s yesterday. While it could be a few years until we see him again his combination of speed and power has the Ticket Services staff wiping our brows with ticket stock in anticipation of future gains. Ironically, a retired Athletics great with plenty of speed and power in his heyday was on hand last night for the ceremonial first pitch. Rickey Henderson returned to the site of his record breaking 939th stolen base. Watch out Rickey, Weeks might be on your heels someday.
In the meantime, for a “rebuilding season,” the A’s have been very successful on field. Coupled with our affordability, accessibility, and extensive promotional schedule the A’s should be a point of interest all summer. Helpful ballpark tip: wear green.
A's Ticket Services 