Inside Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Review by Rob Tocalino, Stadium Journey Correspondent

The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum opened in 1966. It became home to the Athletics in 1968 following the franchise’s move from Kansas City to Oakland. Designed as a multi-use facility, the Coliseum has, for most of its years, served as home to both the A’s and the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. (The Oracle Arena, home to the Golden State Warriors, sits right next door.)

A 1995 renovation, spurred by the Raiders return from Los Angeles, added over 20,000 seats. The addition, nicknamed Mount Davis for Raiders owner Al Davis, completely enclosed the field, shutting the stadium off from what used to be a beautiful view of the Oakland hills. In doing so, the last gasp of charm was squeezed out of this aging, yet purposeful ballpark.

FANFARE Score: 19

Food & Beverage: 3

Considering it was built before ballparks put much truck in food frills, the Coliseum has done a good job of keeping concessions fresh. There is a surprisingly good range of food and drink options along the lower concourse, particularly of the latter. Perhaps it’s the proximity to Berkeley and San Francisco, but microbrews are well-represented along with domestic standbys, and “premium” cocktails like Cuervo margaritas.

Fat Tire is among the Microbrew Options

All your ballpark basics are here, from hot dogs and sausages to nachos and peanuts, but the real stars are the BBQ stalls located on the lower concourse, approximately at either foul pole. Other options include the Field Irish pub, offering hard liquor and fresh carved sandwiches, and the West Side Club, an enclosed bar and dining area just behind home plate on the second level, which offers a pricey selection of more hand-made foods. In all, it’s a decent mix of grub, but nothing exceptional.

The BBQ Terrace

Atmosphere: 3

There are East German office buildings that have warmer and more welcoming exteriors than the Coliseum. Even the main approach from the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station has the feel of a cell-block march, with its chain link-enclosed bridge leading to an imposing concrete facade.

The Coliseum's Concrete Exterior

That said, once inside, the park is comfortable, clean and easy to navigate. Seats are roomy enough and angled toward the action. The left field bleachers are the domain of 510 and his drum and plastic trumpet corps, who stoke the crowd in cheers of “Let’s Go Oakland.” Also, you’ll often catch Crazy George and Banjo Man (with his green and gold cape) trawling the aisles. One gripe: The upper deck has been mostly closed for A’s games since 2007, and by the end of the 2009 season, the tarps used to cover it are aged and dirty.

Neighborhood: 1

The Coliseum is in the middle of a heavily industrial area, replete with a filthy canal. On the far side of the 880 freeway, Hegenberger Road has a number of restaurants, most notably the legendary Francesco’s, an old-school Italian joint that’s been open for 40+ years. If you’re arriving by car, there are loads of places to stop on your way to the park, including downtown Oakland or Jack London Square. But around the Coliseum proper, it is not a particularly walkable neighborhood, nor is there a lot to walk to, other than the BART station.

Fans: 4

If images of the Black Hole pop to mind when you think of Oakland fans, you’ll be disappointed at an A’s game. Yeah, the occasional Vader or skull-head might show up, but mostly it’s die-hards with A’s jerseys ranging from Reggie Jackson to, er, Matt Holliday. When the gorillas of the AL East come to town, Oakland fans are generally outnumbered but rarely outdone in the chanting arena. As with any small market team, fans tend to be tolerant, patient, knowledgeable and passionate about their players.

Access: 4

Driving to the stadium is simple from anywhere in the Bay, and there’s generally ample parking, at $17 a car. However, the simplest and cheapest route is to take BART which runs throughout San Francisco and the East Bay.

Return on Investment: 4

Ticket prices are reasonable for the area, and Oakland teams have always provided a decent bang for the buck. For the gluttonous, there’s an All You Can Eat section, and regular promotions like $2 ticket Wednesdays and $1 hot dogs make the Coliseum a relative steal. It’s a no-frills experience, but the focus is on baseball, not peripheral entertainment.

Extra Points: 0

While I could write about the A’s storied history and the excitement whipped up by their mascot Stomper, the fact that the Coliseum has hosted four World Championships feels mostly coincidental these days. The team’s current slogan, 100% Baseball, says as much about their home as what’s happening on the field. It’s a blank canvas on which some magical baseball moments have played out. As a stadium though, it’s well below average.