Fire at Coliseum South/HomeBase

by vertig0 on Oct 13, 2005 12:02 AM PDT

A seven-alarm blaze is burning at the old HomeBase site just south of the Coliseum. All of the local news outlets are covering it, the news stations should all have video.

I took pictures of the site a few months ago and compiled them into an overview (PDF) for the ballpark blog.

The fire was threatening the EDD building next door. It probably doesn't threaten the arena or stadium, but there are some structures on the perimeter like a cell tower and the football seats that may be in jeopardy.

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Nice

Thanks for sharing the news.

by arch on Oct 13, 2005 12:25 AM PDT reply actions

Here's a pic

"Damn kids" -Ron Flores

by secret ASian man on Oct 13, 2005 12:59 AM PDT reply actions

There Is Absolutley NO Truth To The Story-

-That Lew Wolff was witnessed running from the scene!

A joke of course. No one was injured which is good and again it hows us that there are so many vacant buildings in Oakland that are just waiting for this type of event.

~This is a simple game...You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. YOU GOT IT!?!

by BornInOakland @ Athletics Nation on Oct 13, 2005 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions

damn son....

...that is gnarly

"You can't get any more 'Oakland' than the Coliseum. Get any more 'Oakland' and you're in San Leandro!" -Random Drunk Bum at Game

by rungood on Oct 14, 2005 1:37 AM PDT up reply actions

WOW

ohio roots

by nickatt7 on Oct 13, 2005 1:48 AM PDT reply actions

terrible...

YABU: You're always eating cheese. ...Is cheese good for you? . FISCHER: IT'S BETTER THAN SUSHI!!!

by ConditionOakland on Oct 13, 2005 2:18 AM PDT reply actions

They can't do anything right in Oakland......

It's the warehouses NORTH of the coliseum we want burnt down!. And worse yet, I understand that Dennys escaped damage

by Rob @ Athletics Nation on Oct 13, 2005 6:00 AM PDT reply actions

LMAO!

I guess the arsonists the A's hired fogot to bring a compass!

by OaktownTribesman on Oct 13, 2005 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm still wondering why this site

hasn't been officially mentioned as a ballpark possibility.

And I am always suspicious when a big fire breaks out in an area where there is development interest.

by OaklandSi on Oct 13, 2005 7:12 AM PDT reply actions

My very first thought

When there was a little Channel 7 News teaser during the end of "Invasion"... and they didn't give any location other than "behind McAfee Coliseum"... I immediately thought about those hundred or so property owners between 66th & High who "may be reluctant to sell" for ballpark development.

by Poppy on Oct 13, 2005 7:30 AM PDT up reply actions

(and yes...

...I realized after watching the actual news story that the fire was NOT at the 66th/High location...)

by Poppy on Oct 13, 2005 7:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Craziness

I was there when that electrical explosion occurred at the San Leandro BART station this morning and now this too! Stay safe, AN.

I am no longer easily distracted by those AVP advertisements

by franks a lot on Oct 13, 2005 8:42 AM PDT reply actions

Bart's explosion

electrical failure or something. Not really a cause for concern.

by arch on Oct 13, 2005 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I drove by last night

I drove by on 880 just as the fire was starting. The passenger in the car with me pointed it out and I said "oh, that's the old Home Base store". Looks like it went up in flames pretty good. There was also a large fire in a Mare Island warehouse for fine wines yesterday too and BART had a train catch fire a bit after 6:30 a.m. this morning. Should I get the buckets ready in case something happens at my house?

by skwid on Oct 13, 2005 9:08 AM PDT reply actions

there IS development interest in Home Base spot

not necessarily tied to a possible ballpark.

by OaklandSi on Oct 13, 2005 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes

The article I read said that a local councilman was working with the property owners to get a demolition permit so they could develop 167K square feet of retail on the site:

http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_3111309

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 13, 2005 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

An alternative

Rather than targeting all of the area between 66th and High for the "ballpark village", you could use this space, as well as some space north of the Coliseum, and build the ballpark village around the Coliseum, Arena, AND new ballpark.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 13, 2005 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

a while back Marine Layer outlined

how a ballpark in the Home Base area (south of the Coliseum complex) might work. I thought it made at least as much sense as the proposed site north of the complex -- and closer to the existing BART station, besides having fewer property owners.

As far as I know that site hasn't been officially proposed by anyone.

by OaklandSi on Oct 13, 2005 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

His link above details it

It's a creative idea. Thing is, Wolff has decided to skirt the public funding issue by making it part of larger, revenue-generating developement, so that plan would need to be reworked in light of that. The site proposed in the link is only about 25 acres.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 13, 2005 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I've got it ...

once the park is built we could tear down the Coliseum, tell the Raiders to take a hike and develop that area.

Monkeyball Note: if the A's postgame radio host was an evil supervillain, his official Evil Supervillain Laugh would be "Buan-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!")

by devo on Oct 13, 2005 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't let the Coliseum door...

hit you in the ass on the way out, Al. :-).

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 13, 2005 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Marine Layer and vertig0.....

are the same person, are they not?

The question is....are they both Lew Wolff?

And were they seen with a gas can on Hegenberger last night?

THE NORTH SIDE, LEW!!!

by Rob @ Athletics Nation on Oct 13, 2005 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

The same man, indeed

vertig0 (here) and marine layer (ballpark blog) are one and the same. I am not Lew Wolff. Though if I were Lew, I'd ask Blez to use AN as part of a grass-roots stadium political campaign. Do you see anything like that happening right now? Makes it hard to see how the plan can win support if no one's actively selling it to the community.

The recent media appearances have started to make me a little suspicious. First he says he won't negotiate through the media, then he jumps on ESPN Radio in LA and Ronn Owens. If he's sandbagging, he's doing an awfully good job of hiding it.

Guys, I live in San Jose. There's a lot of stuff happening around here that looks like circumstantial evidence of a plot, with land deals at and around the ballpark site, the Selig appearance, more active pursuit of South Bay season ticket sales. Nothing conclusive, but the timing of everything is strange to say the least. Not saying the Oakland backers should start screaming since there's a lot that still needs to be done in San Jose, but keep yer eyes peeled. Everything that's happening in San Jose is EXACTLY what should be happening in Oakland, but isn't.

by vertig0 on Oct 13, 2005 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions

There's too many people in AN.....

....that don't want a new ballpark. Whether it's because they have their heads in the sand or find the subject boring(too many twenty-somethings who'd rather talk about Huston Street's rear end) it's a tough sell for Blez to pull off.

Your blog is a better venue to build support(I make contributions there as "georob")

by Rob @ Athletics Nation on Oct 14, 2005 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions

As one of those...

twenty-somethings who'd rather talk about Huston Street's rear end - ers, I have to say that you are just a bit off base on this.

For one, I have been very active in conversation about the new stadium. I think it is a brilliant idea that is very important to the organization.

For another, part of the reason why many do not get involved in conversation has more to do, I think, with the fact that it has been seen as a carrot hanging over our heads for too long. We have been teased about the possibility of a new ballpark for so long, I think many people are just taking the "wake me when it is official" approach.

And lastly, just because you like to talk about Huston's Ass doesn't mean you ONLY like to talk about Huston's Ass! Sometimes a person needs a little bit of comedy and light heartedness to get them through some of the heavy topics, not only here, but in life. So if we twenty-something chicks want to throw a Huston in the mix, just let us! And don't discount the other intellegent things we have to say on other topics just because we like a Hot Ass every now and then.

"We play our best ball when we're goofing around and having a good time" ~Bobby Crosby

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Oct 14, 2005 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Okay, I stand corrected...

...at least with you, anyway. But I get discouraged when I see so many comments from people who either don't care or like the Coliseum as it is.

So if any of your fellow "butt-watchers" are among those, please remind them that a new stadium will have seating closer to the field, making it much easier to observe those aforementioned "gluteous maximuses"

A win-win for all.

by Rob @ Athletics Nation on Oct 14, 2005 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions

aaah

i miss those homebase days. good times. :)

"you know it's way cooler to be an A's fan" - billy beane to larry krueger

by gotgreen on Oct 13, 2005 10:23 AM PDT reply actions

AHHHH

Those were the days. I'm glad Im not the only one who thought of Raving as I heard about this.

"Rebuild This"

by JSCHWAN on Oct 13, 2005 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Ravers Suck

Horrible Music, Stupid Trendy E tards, Lots of Overpriced Drugs.... Raves Ruined the good old fashion get drunk Party!! thats all I have to say about that...

I HATE THE ANGELS!!!! GO A's in 2006!!!!!

by Shippee33 on Oct 13, 2005 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions

what's wrong with enjoying both kinds of parties?

"you know it's way cooler to be an A's fan" - billy beane to larry krueger

by gotgreen on Oct 13, 2005 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions

That's like a non-baseball fan saying the A's suck

Why would anyone want to go to a baseball game? Overpriced beers, boring on-field action, cheezy announcers.

See my point? I'm not a big rave guy myself, but it doesn't make sense to trash what others appreciate.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 13, 2005 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Ive Just watched

Ectsay destroy many of my friends lives, and it all started by them going to Rave Parties, now they are worthless drug addicts...

I HATE THE ANGELS!!!! GO A's in 2006!!!!!

by Shippee33 on Oct 13, 2005 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, damn raves

drugs certainly aren't a problem in the punk scene ...

Monkeyball Note: if the A's postgame radio host was an evil supervillain, his official Evil Supervillain Laugh would be "Buan-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!")

by devo on Oct 13, 2005 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions

agree

I used to do the rave scene at Home Base, it was fun then, but some people I know are such retards now.

Idiots are everywhere, just like the goons/raider fans at A's games that are totally wasted.

by pickinmachine on Oct 13, 2005 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

it's too bad

that your friends became drug addicts but that doesn't mean that all people who go/ went to raves are like your friends. i went to plenty of raves sober and still had tons of fun.

"you know it's way cooler to be an A's fan" - billy beane to larry krueger

by gotgreen on Oct 13, 2005 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Step away from the ledge:

This is some serious rez-like hate.

I guess that either you get it or you don't.

I am just glad that I did...get it that is.

Pick up Payton's Option...P...P...P...Please?

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Oct 13, 2005 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

you caused me to reread his post

and made me realize that I misread drunk, thinking it said punk ...

Not that I haven't partaken of get drunk party scene more than a little bit, but frankly, this new, more accurate reading would have caused him to lose any credibility he had in my book, had he had any after the original reading.

Alcohol has ruined a hell of a lot more lives than E ever will and the social pressure to drink until you puke that pervades those party plays a big role in it. So does it centrality and acceptability in our society, despite the huge amount of harm it causes.

That being said, this topic is getting a bit too heavy. I need a beer. A real beer, not that tasteless fizzy yellow shit that they make in China .... as well as in every commercial brewery in the States. I might have to stop off at BevMo on the way home to pick up an Arrogant Bastard ... or maybe a Belgian of some sort ...

Monkeyball Note: if the A's postgame radio host was an evil supervillain, his official Evil Supervillain Laugh would be "Buan-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!")

by devo on Oct 13, 2005 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

One word for you

Corsendonk.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 13, 2005 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Here's to the get drunk parties...

cheers

"Damn kids" -Ron Flores

by secret ASian man on Oct 13, 2005 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Drugs are a problem in any scene

it just seems the whole purpose of the Rave scene IS DRUGS....

I HATE THE ANGELS!!!! GO A's in 2006!!!!!

by Shippee33 on Oct 13, 2005 12:49 PM PDT reply actions

actually

you are right. it all started in europe. british people (and other europeans) would go to, now known as the rave capital of the world, Ibiza, Spain to get f&** up as much as possible while listening to House and Techno music (contrary to popular belief, both were made in the good ole USA). Well "e", xtc, mdma, whatever you call it was the "cool kids" drug of choice because of it's happy-enzyme releasing effects. to wrap it up, they , the "cool kids", brought it over to england, it blew up as the best kept secret, thugs in the UK saw the scene as a way to make money and get high. more people in the UK started going to these scenes, thus the "cool kids" deemed them uncool, the events got bigger, more drugs got pushed. then boom, Raves=place to get drugs, "e", mda etc.... Raves are other things, but drugs accessiblity can be associated with it but it's not necessary.

(forgive the run on sentences, i don't wanna write a diary of my fiery resignation from AN)

so much on my mind, i just can't recline -respiration

by ucla kid on Oct 13, 2005 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions

at least

there are no Drug problems in the Baseball fan scene, well except for drinking I guess but its a much more sober enviorment in general

I HATE THE ANGELS!!!! GO A's in 2006!!!!!

by Shippee33 on Oct 13, 2005 12:50 PM PDT reply actions

Not sure I'd go that far

Like you said, alcohol is a problem in the MLB scene. How many fistfights have I seen at the Coliseum? How many player/fan fights have there been over the past couple of years? All fueled by alcohol--the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems :-).

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 13, 2005 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions