Talk about returning to normal.
The San Francisco Giants expect over 100,000 fans at Oracle Park for the three-game "Battle of the Bay" against the Oakland Athletics, beginning Friday night at 6:45 p.m. This is the first time so many fans have been allowed into the stadium since September 2019.
"I think it’s a celebration of our community, too," Giants CEO Larry Baer told KCBS Radio. "It's the first event in San Francisco at full capacity, the first big event. … It would be great for everybody to take part, and celebrate our community coming back."
Baer said the Giants have so far sold at least 35,000 tickets to each game, with more still available for fans looking to attend any of the three games.
Face masks are recommended, but not required, at Oracle Park after California lifted most of its coronavirus-related restrictions earlier this month. That's especially true for fans unvaccinated against COVID-19.
You can still order concessions online, but Oracle Park will be staffed up with people selling beer, garlic fries and other favorites to fans face to face.
"It has been a challenge, but our staffing is good," Baer said. "All the concessions are going to be open, pretty much. We have the workers, all the typical people that you see … are all going to be there. I think it's going to feel really good. I get chills thinking about the reopening, that classic reopening that we're going to be able to see.”
Backpacks and large bags are still not allowed in order to cut down on long lines, and you’ll need your credit or debit cards because Oracle Park is cashless. But fans will have an additional public transportation option.
BART Media Relations Manager Jim Allison told KCBS Radio that the agency will run “limited service” from the Embarcadero Station to seven others in the Bay Area. Trains will depart the station 40 minutes after the fireworks on Friday night, at 10:25 p.m. for all other night games.
The A’s will return to a fully reopened Oakland Coliseum on Friday.
Related
