September 27, 2011, 2nd to the last game of the baseball season, I thought I’d take in my first game of the year at AT&T Park. . I thought it time to assess all the hype that we’ve been hearing all season about the season of sold out games and the great fans despite the San Francisco Giants falling short of an expected Playoff birth.
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
I’ve had a few issues with the Giants going back to Bonds and the Steroid Era , the trades – even going back to the Chub Feeney Day and Horace Stoneham Days and the whole way the team’s front office runs the team, perhaps more as a marketing tool, ie win now at any cost to win and get that revenue rather than sacrificing a year or two to build from within, basically firing Bill Newcomb, their sacrificial lamb, most responsible for getting them to the World Series and so forth. So, I went more with the sociologist in me rather than the baseball fan. Actually the real thing that drew me was the tribute to Tony Bennett on his 85th birthday.
I didn’t get near the stadium until the second inning. Frankly I wasn’t 100% sure I would even get a seat I f the game was really SOLD OUT like all the others. I just had a hunch though ,t wasn’t and I had a feeling the previous 160 weren’t all sold out. Sorry, but I don’t fully believe everything I hear ( or don’t hear) from the Giants. When I saw that parking was $30 I made every effort to find a free space, which I did – a borderline spot there was a driveway and a locked fence. Worht a chance. I figured a ticket couldn’t be much more than $30. I asked myself how do people afford this, especially during the economic crunch.
If that wassn’t bad enough, after walking a half mile to the stadium I found the ticket sales and yes, there were tickets available. First, I tried the automated ticket machine. Cheapest ticket was $125. Come on Giants . What is this? Then I went to one of the windows. The lady there quoted the same price. I asked her if that really was the lowest price and, without flinching, she said ‘yes.’ Not one to give up easily – remember, I was here as much for sociological reasons and music as for sports- I went to another nearby ticket window, expecting to hear the same price, but hoping for something different. Lo and behold, the man there quoted me $68 this time, guaranteeing me that this was the lowest price. ! Aha! Those Giants are really something.
Well, how’s about yet another try for Window No. 3?
