Athletics offer BOGO deal in attempt to fight Opening Day boycott
By Tim Smart
The Oakland Athletics have started offering a buy one, get one package for their Opening Day game against the Guardians in an effort to fight the fans' scheduled boycott.
The Oakland 68's and Last Dive Bar, among other fans, have been outspoken for months in putting together a massive boycott in the parking lot at the Coliseum on opening night. Fans on social media have been talking it up and there's expected to be a significant turnout for the event.
The A's have come up with the genius idea to offer a buy one, get one ticketing deal for that game, a tactic that is generally unheard of in professional sports. It's nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to thwart what they know is going to be a bad night for them publicity-wise.
REMINDER:
— (Un)Rooted In Oakland - SELL THE TEAM (@OaklandRooted) February 7, 2024
Do not purchase tickets for Opening Day! The A’s may be trying to offer incentives, but we the fans need to use our voices and say NO. There are plans for an Opening Day parking lot boycott/protest.
Save $, don’t give a cent to John Fisher. #BoycottOpeningDay 💚 pic.twitter.com/cz1g1hDN1V
It's unlike John Fisher and the A's to care about bad publicity. They've been making boneheaded decisions for years with no regard to the repercussions. This one isn't all that different.
Last Dive Bar has come out and called for fans to donate any money they were planning on spending on A's tickets to Schools Over Stadiums, the political action committee fighting the A's public financing efforts in Nevada.
It will be understandably difficult for many A's fans to avoid the Coliseum this year. On one hand, John Fisher doesn't deserve any more of our hard earned money. He's completely ruined any trust we may have had in him and the direction this once-esteemed franchise is heading in is extremely sad to watch.
On the other hand, it's increasingly likely that this is the last season in which the A's play baseball in Oakland. People will want to take their kids out to the park, and maybe get to the Coliseum one last time before it becomes history.
I can see both sides of the argument, and I don't blame anyone on either side. Fans can choose to do what they wish, and they can root for the team however they want.
It'll be interesting to see how this lame duck season plays out for the A's. Sad to watch, of course. But interesting nonetheless.
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