A's Fans Planning "Reverse Boycott" for June 13 vs. Tampa Bay
A's fans are tired of the team's ownership and the direction of the team, and have largely stopped going to games. Even the diehards are going less often.
There are reasons that go beyond the team on the field that led to the league's worst attendance in 2022, and the A's currently drawing the fewest fans per game this season as well.
But when the A's attendance gets covered pretty much anywhere, that's where they leave it. The A's can't draw, end of story.
There is much more to the story, like the fact that prices have gone up for season tickets in recent seasons, even while the club sends away fan favorites like Matt Olson and Matt Chapman. That was a tough sell for a lot of fans.
There is also the major storyline that John Fisher could up and move the team to Las Vegas if he gets the deal he's looking for. Why would fans be showing up in droves when the team on the field is lacking the old favorites, it's more expensive to go to a game, and the team may not even be in Oakland in a couple of years?
Stu Clary, a 60-year-old former season ticket holder wanted to show everyone that the lack of attendance isn't on the fans.
I asked Stu a few questions via DM, and here is what he said:
Jason: What made you land on Tuesday, June 13 and what is the goal of packing the Coliseum?
Stu: So this is something I’ve been thinking about for a while and I mentioned it in reply to a tweet from the “Rooted in Oakland” Twitter page. Things kinda took off. Then I mentioned it to Jefferey August who put together a group of people to discuss it and the ball was rolling. We picked June 13 because we wanted to come up with a random weeknight game vs someone other than Giants, Yankees or Red Sox - in other words a game that would be poorly attended ordinarily. Also we wanted it to be on a non school night so during summer vacation. The goal is to simply show Major League Baseball, local media and the nation that we can and will support the team. That the fans are not the problem. It occurs to me that staying away just drives the narrative that Oakland doesn’t support or deserve the A’s.
Jason: Will there be any special pregame tailgates?
Stu: I’m sure there will be plenty of tailgating. Nothing official is planned (at least not yet) but I’m anticipating a festive atmosphere.
Jason: Should people bring signs?
Stu: We definitely encourage signs, banners, special t-shirts etc. We have a message to deliver.
It takes a lot to be an A's fan. In the last 23 years, every era has ended with a sell-off, starting with Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson, on to Dan Haren and Huston Street, to Josh Donaldson, Yoenis Céspedes, Sonny Gray, and Sean Doolittle, and most recently with Olson, Chapman, Sean Murphy, Sean Manaea, and Chris Bassitt.
That's a lot of talent, and a lot of memories that the A's have traded away for prospects and the hope of brighter days ahead. If there were more positive news on the ballpark front, the fans might be able to push through yet another rebuild and the growing pains that come with them, but with no guarantee that their favorite team will even stick around (or give them the time of day), fans are staying away--for now.
"We’re here, and ready to support, but only if they’re run like an actual major league team."
If you would like to join the "Reverse Boycott," you can purchase tickets at the link below.