Tagged: Tickets
Predicting the Future
As mentioned on our @ticketservices Twitter feed, Gio Gonzalez was on last night’s Season Ticket commemorative ticket stock. Every offseason, shortly before the thick of the holiday season, a few of us in the Ticket Operations Department pour over photos, creating a theme, and assigning each photo to specific games throughout the season. We want each ticket to be unique and we hope that each ticket will be memorable. Consolidated Printing, the company that prints the tickets, then helps with the design. We recently placed Trevor Cahill on a night that he pitched, similar to Gio’s ticket last night. Boy, did Gio pitch a gem last night or what? A leadoff hit by the Marlins and then not another the rest of the night. A’s win 1-0. We called that one in December.
Print@Home Tickets Now Free
The Oakland A’s have long offered print at home tickets to fans purchasing online and by phone for a small per order charge. We’re pleased to report, as of yesterday, single game ticket buyers have the opportunity to print tickets at home for free. Our desire is to allow fans, especially tech savvy fans, the best ticket purchase, ticket delivery, and gate entry experience possible. When ordering single game tickets select “Print At Home” for $0. Your confirmation screen, as well as a follow up email, will contain links to print your tickets onto 8.5” x 11” paper. Be sure that the barcode on each ticket is legible. Bring your printed papers to the game and the barcodes are scanned for entry. You never have to see a ticket operations employee at the Box Office or at Will Call. But if you want to stop by and say “Hello, Go A’s!” we won’t stop you.
A’s Emails: New and Improved
Are you signed up to receive A’s emails? If you have been for a while you might have noticed some changes this season. And if you’re not signed up, get on board and check out what you’re missing.
In past seasons, the Monday email was titled Ticket Guide and the look was a little different. This season, the Ticket Weekly: Your Official Source for Athletics Tickets is more simple, contains less clutter, and is a handy tool for upcoming games, series, ticket offers, and special discounts.
The most notable changes to A’s email, however, is The Trumpet. Formally A’s Fastball, we renamed the bi-weekly email, sent shortly before each homestand, to something that was more relevant to the A’s. We went through many rounds of potential titles. Some were OK, some just awful. When “The Trumpet” was suggested it was easily the best choice without having any negative connotations (“The Trunk” comes to mind). Elephants “trumpet” when they speak and to trumpet something is to announce or call attention. Perfect. Our elephant logo and mascot tied in with the name of our newsletter was solidified. And in the process of the name change, we’ve also tried to make the text within The Trumpet less business, more jovial. The lead area is a short form editorial on what’s happening or coming soon. The blurbs about ticket offers or player appearances are often meant to be witty (but not always, we know). Check out a recent edition of The Trumpet on a webpage.
All fans can sign up for The Trumpet and other A’s emails at oaklandathletics.com. We’d love to bombard you with information!
Happy Opening Night!
Happy Opening Night A’s Fans!
We begin the 2011 A’s baseball season tonight with a home game against the Seattle Mariners. 7:05pm folks. OK, we’ve noticed that the trend is to say “Happy Opening Day.” But since we play a night game we’re going with the facts.
Looking around the Tickets Sales and Ticket Operations Departments we notice a lot of experienced faces… and graying hair (or receding hair!). A highly educated, work-a-holic bunch of people, our familiarity with each other shows how much we enjoy working in Major League Baseball. It prompted the question: What number A’s Home Opener is this?
The newest of the bunch are Lauren, Andrew, and Faizan, this being each their second Opening Night. Lauren and Andrew, both Ticket Services Representatives, are not short on experience. Lauren previously worked for the San Diego Padres and Andrew for the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. Faizan, a burnt orange Texas grad, is our Database Administrator and enjoys the temperate weather of a California Opening Night. John, a Ticket Services Rep, is celebrating the start of his fourth season, but just his third Opening Night. He joined the A’s in May of 2008. If you’re a brand new or long returning Season Ticket Holder there’s no doubt you’ve talked with or met all three of these terrific Ticket Services Reps.
Looking at nearly a half decade are Jason, Premium Seating Services Assistance, and Catherine, Ticket Services Manager, with this being their fourth Opening Night. Over the half decade hump with six Opening Nights are Moti, Premium Seating Services Manager, and Anuj, Ticket Operations Coordinator. Also at six Opening Nights today is Anthony, Box Office Supervisor, who is actually missing the action. We’re sure he’s got his hands full as Anthony’s wife gave birth to a baby girl earlier this week. We’ll give Anthony a pass this year.
The over-a-decade bunch (yikes!) is jam packed. Susie, Brian, David, and Travis are all enjoying their tenth Opening Night today. As Bill King would exclaim, “Holy Toledo!” Susie, Director of Premium Seating Services, met her husband, Matt, at the A’s who he himself is at number seventeen today. Brian, Director of Ticket Sales, made the move from Boston to the Bay Area just over ten years ago and is finally a full-fledged A’s fan. David, Ticket Operations Manager, is officially entering his eleventh season. Travis, Digital Ticketing Operations Manager, remembers that only a few years before he joined the A’s computers were just entering the workplace. How times have changed.
Josh, Director of Ticket Operations, is at Opening Night number eleven today. Straight from the mean dirt roads of farmland Ohio, Josh grew up an A’s fan watching Rickey, Hendu, Mac, and Stew as a kid. But Josh isn’t the department’s longest tenured Opening Night employee. That distinction belongs to Steve, Executive Director of Ticket Sales & Operations. Steve, celebrating his fourteenth Opening Night, predicts continued excellent service to all A’s fans and a winning 2011 season. We all do actually. Some of our best times have been crowded around a small radio in a Box Office listening to King call the “walk off bunt” and jumping up and down with fellow employees waving home Mark Kotsay in Minnesota. It’s the beginning of another baseball season tonight. Play Ball!
Oakland Coliseum the Morning of the 2011 A's Opening Night. -Photo by Travis LoDolce
Season Ticket Holder Party Recap
We want to give a HUGE thank you to all A’s Season Ticket Holders that attended the private party on Saturday, September 11. The special event, strictly for Season Ticket Holders, welcomed guests with a red carpet entrance to the Eastside Club. Once inside, children had an area for coloring, complete with face painting and balloon art. Adults had a DJ for dancing and karaoke. Everyone was able to dine on complimentary food. Legendary A’s pitchers Vida Blue and Dave Stewart posed for photos with fans at the World Series trophies for nearly an hour. Ray Fosse lead Question and Answer sessions with Andrew Bailey, Craig Breslow, Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, as well as with Blue and Stewart. Even Executive Director of Ticket Sales and Operations, Steve Fanelli, and In-Game Host Kara Tsuboi graced the stage to thank the guests.
Did you smile big for your photo when entering the Eastside Club? These photos will be on your 2011 Opening Night ticket! How cool is that?! You’ll have to renew your plan in time for the commemorative ticket stock. Get a jump on next season by calling the A’s Ticket Services Office at (510) 568-5600. You can even request seat relocation now by phone or online here.
Thank you all again for what continues to be a fun season of A’s baseball!
Meaningful Day: Talkin’ Draft and Angels Series
Garfield hates Mondays. What’s he care? He doesn’t work. Not like the A’s work, particularly on this Monday. In just a few hours the A’s will draft number 10 overall in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. All of the A’s organizational scouts collect in a “war room” to share months if not years of work, recommendations, and experience. Of course, the discussions are done – can’t do homework on the day of the final exam. It’ll be exciting to watch the A’s select baseball players over the next three days. Although different than other sports where athletes usually move straight to the major team, the MLB draft can be likened to a college recruiting class. Terrific athletes, some seasoning needed, and enjoy watching them grow into full fledged talents. Hitting a big league fastball is often said to be “the hardest thing to do in sports.” It’s not much easier to hit or throw a curve ball either.
Just a couple hours after the A’s pick 10th, the Angels and A’s will matchup at the Oakland Coliseum for the first of four games (Monday-Wednesday @ 7:05pm, Thursday @ 12:35pm). As we write, the Texas Rangers are first in the AL West Division with the Angels and A’s a half and full game back, respectively. That means, a loss by Texas and an A’s win can pull the A’s into a first place tie with Texas tonight. This series can mean a lot. You’re certainly encouraged to don green and gold and cheer often for the home club the next four days.
By-the-way, when you purchase any A’s ticket online at oaklandathletics.com you’ll be offered the opportunity to purchase tickets from Dallas Braden’s Perfect Game masterpiece on May 9, 2010. Tickets are $10 each in your choice of section. Just a little keepsake for any baseball fan.
Perfection and Sweeps – Where Are Your Seats?
How is your season progressing so far? The A’s, above .500, are just a hair out of first place
in the AL West. We’ve witnessed a recent perfect game and a sweep in Oakland over
the cross-bay Giants. For such accomplishments, where did you sit? Have you tried the new
Value Deck or Plaza Club, with Jumbo Ticket added-value installed in the barcode? Maybe you and five friends checked out a Mini Suite, where you get a private suite plus food and beverage for $99 per ticket. Maybe you’ve even taken advantage of Dallas Braden’s Section 209 offer! What’s your favorite section/row/seat in the Oakland Coliseum? And your favorite moment while in it?
Photos copyright Travis LoDolce
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.
Commemorative Ticket Stock Carefully Selected
One of our favorite topics of discussion with Season Ticket Holders relates to the season ticket stock. Ticket plans paid in full by the February deadline received commemorative ticket stock in bound booklets. A’s Season Ticket Holders will notice that, for the first time, each game is unique by game date helping to commemorate 40 years of Oakland Athletics baseball in the Bay Area. A full-season ticket book has 80 unique tickets.
Savvy Season Ticket Holders may also notice that some of the photos are not random. For example:
- Players are featured on their bobblehead giveaway dates. Most recently Dick Williams on July 27.
- Our replica jersey promotional dates coincide with the player featured on the ticket. For example, Vida Blue is featured June 22 and Dave Stewart is featured on July 13.
- Player birthdays are also celebrated: Frank Thomas on May 27.
An interesting tidbit about Mark Ellis: He was featured on our May 7 ticket vs. Baltimore. Mark hit his first career walk-off home run in the 10th inning, winning the game for Oakland 6-5 and preserving a three game sweep of the Orioles. Are we clairvoyant in the A’s Ticket Services Office? Short answer: Yes.
Some of our office favorite tickets this season…
Josh most enjoys the May 24 ticket. A huge Stew fan growing up in Ohio, Josh wound up working for his favorite team.
Adam likes the jubilation on catcher Ray Fosse’s face on June 28. Now an A’s broadcaster, we enjoy Ray for more than just his athletic prowess.
Catherine and Travis think the July 26 ticket with MC Hammer and Rickey Henderson is most amusing. Travis lobbied for the photo to be used on the ticket stock for the historical uniqueness and Travis’ penchant for wearing “Hammer pants.”
David is happy to celebrate Vida Blue’s 1970 no hitter to the day on the September 21 ticket. It is also the final home game of the regular season and a fond farewell.
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 