A's expand FanFest to O.co Coliseum and Oracle Arena
Presented by Comcast SportsNet California, Event to be held on Saturday, February 8; Tickets on sale Thursday, January 9
OAKLAND, Calif. - The two-time defending AL West champion Oakland Athletics will make their first public appearance of the 2014 season at A's FanFest on Saturday, February 8. For the first time, the event, presented by Comcast SportsNet California, has expanded to include both O.co Coliseum and Oracle Arena.
"We are thrilled to give our fans and our back-to-back AL West champs the chance to interact as we get ready for another exciting season," said Jim Leahey, A's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Using both venues will allow us to take advantage of the strengths of each, and enable us to provide a great experience for more fans."
Tickets to A's FanFest, which cost $10, will go on sale Thursday, January 9 and can be purchased at www.oaklandathletics.com/fanfest. The event is expected to sell out and fans are encouraged to buy tickets early. Admission is free for children ages six and under. Parking at the event is also free.
A's FanFest will feature free autograph sessions with current and former A's players, including Josh Donaldson, who finished fourth in the 2013 AL MVP voting, and standout pitchers Sean Doolittle and Sonny Gray, among others; photo opportunities with players and the A's four World Series trophies, presented by Grant Thornton LLP; tours of the A's clubhouse; the Comcast SportsNet sportscaster experience; the first opportunity to sign up for the 2014 A's Kids Club; a memorabilia sale, with proceeds benefiting the A's Community Fund; various coaching clinics; and much more. Each of these events will be held at O.co Coliseum. Player introductions and question-and-answer sessions, meanwhile, will take place at Oracle Arena. The event will begin with the introductions at 10 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m.
In addition, A's FanFest will give fans their first opportunity to celebrate two special anniversaries in 2014. As the A's aim for their third consecutive AL West title, this season represents the 40th anniversary of another major three-peat - the A's 1974 World Series title. In '74, the A's became one of only two Major League franchises to win three or more consecutive World Series, the other being the New York Yankees (1936-39, 1949-53, 1998-00). The A's are also celebrating the 25th anniversary of their 1989 World Series title, a four-game sweep of the cross-bay rival San Francisco Giants.
A's legends from both the '74 and '89 World Series teams are anticipated to attend A's FanFest. During the regular season, the A's will hold a '74 World Series reunion on Saturday, May 31 when 15,000 fans receive a Catfish Hunter bobblehead, presented by State Farm.
Individual game tickets and season ticket packages will also be on sale at A's FanFest. Tickets can be purchased at the O.co Coliseum box office, online at www.oaklandathletics.com/tickets and over the phone by calling 877-493-BALL (2255). Individual tickets will first go on sale Friday, January 24 at 9 a.m.
For more information about A's FanFest, visit www.oaklandathletics.com/fanfest.