A's Fan Appreciation Workout Day

by gotgreen on Dec 17, 2008 8:30 AM PST Comment 42 comments

So it looks like instead of the usual FanFest in January this year, the A's are having a "Fan Appreciation Workout Day" instead.

It will take place on Sunday, April 5, at the Coliseum and we will get to watch the players hold their final workout before Opening Day.

Preliminary plans for the day include:

A public team workout with batting practice, fielding drills, and special commentary from A's coaches

"Meet and Greet" sessions; player autograph opportunities

Q&A sessions in which fans will be able to hear from players and coaches

Behind-the-scenes tours of the Coliseum

Opportunity to purchase authentic game-used equipment and other memorabilia

Opportunity to win exciting prizes in fan appreciation raffles

Also, unlike Fanfest, parking and admission will be FREE!

I'm a bit disappointed because I look forward to seeing our A's every January and I really enjoy FanFest so we'll see if this is a good change!

link

Poll

Which one would you be more excited about attending?

FanFest

295 votes

Workout Day

272 votes

567 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 42 comments

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Comments

Well, FanFest admission was basically free

since they gave out so many tickets to Season Ticket holders that no one had any trouble getting them.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Dec 17, 2008 9:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

So it's basically like Fanfest. It's just in April.

Okay.

by mikev on Dec 17, 2008 9:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The only down side...

is that I have to wait even longer for an A’s fix. I really hate that.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Dec 17, 2008 10:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

upside

less likely to rain?

BB should send scouts to watch cricket players.

by alea iacta est on Dec 17, 2008 10:05 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

+1

by LoneStranger on Dec 17, 2008 10:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Or more likely to rain.

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 10:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

no, that's the downside

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 11:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

April's not so bad.

The good side is that I don’t get excited about baseball in January and then go through withdrawls until April.

by LoneStranger on Dec 17, 2008 10:09 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

although we do have spring training games on the radio...

by OaklandSi on Dec 17, 2008 10:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes! The return of Buancasting!

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 12:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Pass.

by mikev on Dec 17, 2008 12:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What happened to FanFest on January 24th?

"And sometimes, when it seems like all hope is gone, Life tosses you a special gift of a baseball game" . 7/10/08 BaseBallGirl headline

by LongTimeFan on Dec 17, 2008 10:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Never mind...I just read the release

I’m glad there is still Q&A – that’s my favorite part.
Too bad we have to wait till April.

"And sometimes, when it seems like all hope is gone, Life tosses you a special gift of a baseball game" . 7/10/08 BaseBallGirl headline

by LongTimeFan on Dec 17, 2008 10:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cancelled/replaced with this thing. :(

If I don't comment on your comment how will you know you are completely wrong? -Rocktopus

by pam5981 on Dec 17, 2008 10:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

well, we could have our mini fanfest

"And sometimes, when it seems like all hope is gone, Life tosses you a special gift of a baseball game" . 7/10/08 BaseBallGirl headline

by LongTimeFan on Dec 17, 2008 11:14 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Can I go, or am I too tall?

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 12:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

A-Line

The players wear mini skirts for the mini fanfest. They had to wait till Frank Thomas was long gone before they could start this tradition.

by Stew's Crew on Dec 17, 2008 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

We should have our own mini fanfest

I have a decent number of A’s DVDs (read through AN’s very own archives to find out how I got them :-D) and we could find an afternoon and screen every last one of ‘em. Add in some good drinks and some good food and it’s a can’t-miss. Chez Wes doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but if it helps you to think of it as a Chez Nico for the Winter months then feel free to do so.

Of course, maybe joining SABR has made me want to hang out with as many baseball fans as I can. Crazier things have been known to happen.

In either event, thanks, GotGreen, for posting this. I’ll probably still make it out to this, but like the others, I’m a tad perturbed that I have to wait that long.

In God We Trust....All Others Must Show Data

by Wes7 on Dec 17, 2008 1:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Did you really join SABR?

"And sometimes, when it seems like all hope is gone, Life tosses you a special gift of a baseball game" . 7/10/08 BaseBallGirl headline

by LongTimeFan on Dec 17, 2008 4:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I really did

I had been mulling over it for quite some time, but never actually took the plunge. Wouldn’t you know it, a good friend, and someone well versed in my love for the game, decided that a membership would be a good Christmas present.

She was right. And as a result, I’ve been beaming with baseball love ever since.

In God We Trust....All Others Must Show Data

by Wes7 on Dec 17, 2008 6:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I am down with that idea!

If I don't comment on your comment how will you know you are completely wrong? -Rocktopus

by pam5981 on Dec 17, 2008 4:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it would be fun too

It occurred to me as I was thinking about a possible response and I figured I should share it. I’ll try and make it happen in January. I’ll put up a diary several weeks prior and see what kind of shindig can happen.

In God We Trust....All Others Must Show Data

by Wes7 on Dec 17, 2008 6:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I loved watching the Beane

Q&A before the season. I will miss it.

"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com

by Syphon on Dec 17, 2008 2:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This sounds better, I think.

I went to FanFest once, and swore never again. There were a couple things that were kinda cool, but for the most part I found it a complete waste of time.

"If I've got baggage, he's got a whole set of Louis Vuitton." ~ Milton Bradley on Barry Bonds

by UncleLeo on Dec 17, 2008 2:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Same here

One clubhouse tour is enough and while the Q&As can have some good moments there was too much of the women going “can you sign my shirt if I come up?” for my tastes. I’m also not interested in standing in long lines for autographs.

The workout thing with commentary could be more interesting.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Dec 17, 2008 8:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The FanFests were good when they were held at Jack London Square in early February. I went to the first one at the Coliseum and that was it for me. I have no intention of going to another there. Was it ever explained why they abandoned JL Square?

Root for the Giants? Not even if they're playing al-Qaeda!

by Monday Fan on Dec 18, 2008 12:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

More than likely

Was the cost of renting it out, compared to just using their own stadium.

I remember the year at jack london where it was suppose to rain all day. Didnt rain that much and no one really showed up. Was able to get anyone and everyones autograph you wanted with such short lines.

by Athletix Man on Dec 18, 2008 12:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it kinda sucks

January gave us that A’s fix to get us excited before spring training. Always looked forward to it then and not much going on then.

Now it pushes it to when the weather is nicer and more is going on, at least for me. My team as a baseball game then, so for probably about the first time ever, I won’t be able to make it to the fanfest.

It all comes down to money. Now the team won’t have to pay extra to fly the players out here and put them up somewhere. They will already be here. Just a sign of the economic times.

But also in the long run it also hurts the team. With already having fewer and fewer people attending games. One of the few advertisements, which the fanfest was, is now gone before the season. So marketing wise, when you want to get more people to buy season tickets, this fails in that aspect.

by The Golden One on Dec 17, 2008 4:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

also, the A's usually start selling single game tickets

on the same day as Fan Fest. I wonder if they will still start selling them in January — only this time without the thousands of fans at the coliseum.

by OaklandSi on Dec 17, 2008 4:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The title made me think the fans were going to be working out at the Coliseum

Would have been kinda interesting.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Dec 17, 2008 6:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

i saw the title and then started surfing for spandex

alaska A residing in colorado.

by ak_A on Dec 17, 2008 7:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Be honest - you started surfing for spandex first

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Dec 17, 2008 7:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

a green and gold body suit

alaska A residing in colorado.

by ak_A on Dec 17, 2008 7:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

WITH the players.

“Excuse me, Bobby. Can I hit in the cage now? COME ON! It’s not like BP helps you!”

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Dec 17, 2008 8:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hey, bobby,

when i wink, i’m going to throw it low and away, so see if you can lay off, right?

BB should send scouts to watch cricket players.

by alea iacta est on Dec 17, 2008 11:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see the A's Community Fund set something up where fans...

…can donate to go down on the field after a game (or even when the team is out of town) to take batting practice, play the infield and shag fly balls.

A couple years ago I paid something like $75 to do it after the Giants played a home game and it was awesome. They had us (about two dozen people signed up) gather by the fencing behind the right field wall and let us in about half an hour after the game was over, and each person got about 10 pitches from the machine. I had as much fun just catching some fly balls and taking some grounders and throws at first base.

I don’t think they’ve done it aside from that one time, though.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Dec 17, 2008 9:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs