Oakland A's fans boycott team's home opener, gather for massive tailgate party in Coliseum parking lot
With Thursday's A's game against the Cleveland Guardians possibly being the last Oakland home opener for the Athletics, tension is growing between team management and their fanbase.
Thousands of fans are expected to arrive at the Oakland Coliseum for Thursday night's home opener, but many will not be spending their money to buy a ticket and go inside.
Brien Kirk and his wife were the first ones lined up against the stadium gate, hours before it opened.
"We're supporting all these people who want the A's to stay here. So we will not go inside," he told CBS News Bay Area.
Kirk has been attending as games at the Oakland Coliseum since 1972. As they waited for the gates to open, they passed the time drinking, basket weaving and chatting with other fans.
Fans want to send a message to A's owner John Fisher that they want the team to stay in Oakland instead of moving to Las Vegas. Loyal backers of the team angry over the relocation are boycotting the game and plan to pack the parking lot with a massive tailgate.
"We will support the team when John Fisher sells to a local ownership group, preferably an African-American group, and revitalizes this whole area," Kirk said.
Fans taking part in the boycott are planning to listen to the game against the Guardians on the radio.
"People will be cheering when the A's score a run and they'll be booing when there's a bad call. They'll be into the game, they just won't be in the game," Kirk said.
Major League Baseball owners cast their vote supporting the team's proposed move to Vegas back in November.
The fan organization Save Oakland Sports hosted the party with other groups including the Oakland Raiders Boosters Club, Last Dive Bar and Ladies Love Oakland Sports. The tailgate party provided food and beverages and include amplified music by the "A Lot Brew Crew."
The event was held in the southside Coliseum parking lot B next to the two electrical towers, organizers said.
"Yeah, our intent is not to go to any games whatsoever. Jon Fisher doesn't deserve the money," said Bryan Johansen of the fan group Last Dive Bar. "The A's, the front office, the organization does not deserve the love. The Raiders wasn't as tough as this. This is like a slow, drawn-out, vindictive relocation process."
Johansen, who was born and raised an A's fan said the potential move is crushing.
"April 19th (2023), when that ball dropped, it was like a death in the family. You ever have a mother or father or someone close to you die? That's exactly what it was," he told CBS News Bay Area.
Johansen says his organization is still pushing for Fisher to sell the team. He believes it's Fisher's fault the team has struggled to fill the stadium in past years.
"They've alienated the fan base for so many years. They don't resign players. They've doubled season ticket prices. They've taken away amenities. They've reduced their workforce," Johansen explained. "Work out a sale and let local ownership do it the right way, because you've shown that you're not doing it the right way and you don't have the interest of the fans. Just sell it."
The team's noncommittal approach to what is looking like the A's final lame duck season at the Coliseum has led the Athletics to abandon some events, leading fans to take the reigns of this year's fan fest in February.
Fans have also been expressing their frustration over the planned move with humor on the Oakland A's social media pages, expressing themselves in the comments section. That has led the team's accounts to restrict comments on those pages.
Amanda Hari contributed to this report.