ALDS: Oakland A's vs. Detroit Tigers

[sweet_lou_14]

Continuing our annual tradition of dedicated threads for each playoff series ... enjoy!

[Battingly]

I got the A's in this one.

[ieddyi]

"SF Gate: A’s refuse to remove tarp, cite ‘intimate’ fan experience

.

Most teams try to sell as many tickets as they can, especially during the playoffs. The Oakland Athletics have a different philosophy. A’s management said Friday they plan not to sell 20,878 of the Coliseum’s 55,945 seats next week for the A’s division showdown with the Detroit Tigers. Those seats account for 37 percent of the Coliseum’s baseball seating capacity and A’s management has sealed then off with tarps since 2006 due to low attendance.

But now the Oakland A’s are drawing sold-out crowds. So many fans showed up for the last game of the season Wednesday that A’s management warned people to stay away because there were no tickets left.

Fans are demanding that the team remove the tarps to let more people in - some have started a petition via a website called Removethetarps.com. Many have pelted A’s management with complaints.

On Friday A’s management explained to The Chronicle why they would not remove the tarps.

A smaller crowd, A’s managers said, would create a closer, more intimate environment for the American League Division Series.

“The fan experience is better without spreading fans out over more seats,” A’s managers wrote in an e-mail. “The energy in the park and the fan experience over the last week (when the seats were tarped) was incredible.”"

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/articl...an-3923932.php

[sweet_lou_14]

^^^ That makes no freakin' sense. At all.

When have you ever seen a business find a way to abandon both its imperative to maximize revenue and its customers' express wishes at the same time?

[ieddyi]

^^^ That makes no freakin' sense. At all.

When have you ever seen a business find a way to abandon both its imperative to maximize revenue and its customers' express wishes at the same time?

Maybe the owners don't want to spoil their getaway plans

I was there during the late 80's early 90's whne they were very good and they got great support in spite of the horrible stadium ( which appears to be worse now after football remodeling )

Makes no sense at all

[dont_ya_know24]

only the A's would do that. i could totally see billy beane saying" where were you all the last six years??"

[jcarey]

I imagine we're going to see a lot of strikeouts by As batters. Top two pitchers in Ks in the league against the team that struck out the most times in a season...ever? Yikes.

[yankees2010]

Never heard of turning down cash. I remember for ALCS game 6 and 7 in 2008, the Rays pulled off the upper tarps even though they knew they likely were letting thousands of Sox fans into the building

[Hitman23]

I really was convinced this was an Onion article. Seriously the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

[YankeeFan1421]

I really was convinced this was an Onion article. Seriously the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

It's probably along the lines of what the Yankees do, albeit on a totally different scale.

The Yankees, it's pretty obvious, think they are leaving money on the table when have 100% sellouts. They try to maximize ticket prices to the point where they are just under 100% sold out...and in the process take in more revenue.

With the A's, it's obviously the complete other end of the spectrum in terms of market size and demand, but if they keep availability low, they can charge more over the long run for the inventory.

It's a shame to see tarps over the top of the stadium for playoff games, but I do remember those 2001 playoffs against the Yanks, in the deciding game, where the upper deck was half empty...it did look ugly and it likely dragged on the prices they could charge

[YankeeFan1421]

What I don't understand is why baseball buries Game 2 of the A's and Tigers on the MLB channel. I get the MLB channel on one of my three tv's. Wifey is watching the one I need. The local sports bar..which is normally great...couldn't find it and the whole thing will get swamped by the NFL even with the 12:00 start time.

Baseball seems intent on making its playoffs along the lines of the NHL. TBS is remote enough, but at least people know it by now.

[Pasco08]

Its been a fun series so far.

[Eldee5]

What I don't understand is why baseball buries Game 2 of the A's and Tigers on the MLB channel. I get the MLB channel on one of my three tv's. Wifey is watching the one I need. The local sports bar..which is normally great...couldn't find it and the whole thing will get swamped by the NFL even with the 12:00 start time.

Baseball seems intent on making its playoffs along the lines of the NHL. TBS is remote enough, but at least people know it by now.

I agree with everything you've said here, but it sure is nice to hear a postseason game called by Jim Kaat.

[MoVaughnEatsAlot]

Coco Puffs, whoops.

[Eldee5]

So far, the 2012 playoffs have been full of big, game changing errors: Josh Hamilton, Chipper Jones, now Crisp.

Fingers crossed that the Yankees' defense is error free tonight.

[MoVaughnEatsAlot]

Vasgersian gets really excited.

[teknetic]

Cespedes and Darvish, sigh

[roblyo33]

Vasgersian gets really excited.

Sounds like phony enthusiasm to me. Thank goodness for Kitty.

[Pasco08]

Sounds like phony enthusiasm to me. Thank goodness for Kitty.

He always sounds like that to me.

[Pasco08]

WP and Detroit ties it at 4

[Eldee5]

This is some game!

[THEBOSS84]

What an awesome game. Rooting hard for Oakland.

[MoVaughnEatsAlot]

Crazy game.

[GoBernie]

Holy crap, this game!

[GoBernie]

Hi kissed the ball before he threw it to first?