Oakland A's fanatics are for real, folks.
The Oakland Athletics faithful is putting together a unique initiative at the Oakland Coliseum on June 13, aiming to assert their unwavering support and resilience amidst the unsettling prospect of the team relocating to Las Vegas after 55 years in the Bay Area.
This Reverse Boycott intends to pack the Coliseum to full capacity for an otherwise unremarkable Tuesday night match against the Tampa Bay Rays, another low-budged franchise--only that one sitting atop the MLB standings and leading the murderous AL East with a 45-19 record through Wednesday.
To entice a significant turnout, a group of fans (pretty much operating in a similar way to European soccer-club ultras) known as the Oakland 68s has joined forces with the local apparel company Oaklandish. Together, they have designed and produced thousands of vibrant green shirts emblazoned with the word "SELL" in white across the chest.
The Oakland 68s financed the production of these shirts and have also provided a link on their website and social media platforms, encouraging fans and sympathizers to contribute to their cause.
This will be your first chance to grab a sell shirt at our tailgate!! Love banda and DJ and Tacos!! Let’s go Oakland!!! #FisherOut #Sell pic.twitter.com/nhGhwik1rv
— Oakland 68s (@Oakland68s) June 5, 2023
As of Monday, June 5th, the Oakland 68s had amassed an impressive $27,000 in donations, with each shirt priced at a nominal $5. Attendees of the reverse boycott tailgate in the Coliseum parking lot will receive these shirts free of charge.
The collective hope is that the cameras broadcasting the game will capture the unmistakable message: A's fans are always there even though the ownership is trying to silence and kill their vibes, and they are urging owner John Fisher to sell the team to someone committed to preserving their cherished franchise in Oakland instead of pushing through the relocation of the team to Las Vegas.
Support has poured in from all corners of the globe, from Kansas City and New York to Australia and the United Kingdom, as revealed by Anson Casanares, an organizer of the Oakland 68s.
"At first, we set our sights on 1,000 shirts, thinking that would be a remarkable achievement," Casanares shared. "But the response has been overwhelming, and people are impassioned. It feels like their final opportunity to take tangible action rather than simply expressing themselves on Twitter."
Casanares acknowledges that the reverse boycott may not result in a complete sellout, as there are numerous fans who have steadfastly refused to financially support A's ownership under any circumstances throughout the years. Nevertheless, he and all participants in this boycott anticipate that their resounding message will resonate far and wide.
The reverse boycott serves as a testament to the fans who consider it their duty to show their passion and dedication to Oakland and their long-time franchise in the A's. The substantial $27,000, if not more, in donations and the sea of green shirts will serve as undeniable evidence that they are far from alone in their conviction.