New A's President Dave Kaval yesterday hosted the "first of weekly fan 'office hours'" at Oakland Coliseum for more than 100 A's fans, who gave their opinions on things that could improve the franchise, according to John Hickey of the EAST BAY TIMES. Fans were "given numbers based on their arrival time and each segment was slotted for 10 minutes, although some went longer." The event had been slotted for 3:00-5:00pm PT, but there was "no way to get all that done" during the two hours. Kaval said that he would "stay until he’d talked to everybody, but if someone needed to leave, they could schedule a specific appointment for office hours later this month." Last night's session lasted a total of 5.5 hours, ending around 8:30pm. It was an "open session, available to anyone who showed up." Subsequent office hours "will be by appointment, but still open to anyone." Last night's ideas ranged from a "floating stadium" to the "fact that the A’s website lacks a link to the A’s booster club." Fan Shaun Aguilar mentioned the "lack of easily accessible changing tables" in bathrooms and "urged Kaval to find ways to cut the amount of time fans have to wait in line." Kaval was so "taken with Aguilar’s suggestions that he asked the fan if the two of them could spend a day together" during the '17 season so Kaval could get a "better idea of what fans like Aguilar want." Kaval: "It’s important to hear from the stakeholders. You need to get that feedback. If its big things or little things like the lack of light bulbs, they can talk to someone who can get things done and cut through the clutter if he knows about them" (EAST BAY TIMES,12/7). The AP's Janie Mccauley noted at the "end of each meeting, lasting up to about 10 minutes, Kaval provided a postcard-sized note thanking fans for attending while providing his email address and Twitter handle for further communication" (AP, 12/6).
VALUED OPINIONS: Kaval said it is important "to get feedback from the community and stakeholders" about possible ballpark locations "to understand how to make a better decision." He said the idea of opening his office to fans is "nice for us to understand what people are thinking, about transit, having a ballpark village, all of these things together to make a great ballpark experience." Kaval: "It needs to have like a vibrant urban feel around it with bars and restaurants, hotels, people living. That could be here at the Coliseum or it could be downtown. ... It is best for the community when it has that feel. I’m getting that from the fans as well, so I think that’s a really important theme" (
“Sports Talk Live,” CSN Bay Area, 12/6).
NEW PLAN: In S.F., John Shea reports the A's have a "new strategy ... geared toward the opening of a new park, whenever (or if) that day comes." A's Exec VP/Baseball Operations Billy Beane said that the team will "beef up its scouting department and international operations, which would strongly enhance player development." Beane said that the "plan was implemented after" he and GM David Forst made the recommendation to Owner John Fisher with an "eye on a new stadium in Oakland that would generate handsome revenues." Beane added that the '17 payroll "hasn't been set." The payroll "ranked 26th in the majors last season, and no expensive acquisitions are expected" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/7).
