Alameda County's announcement has not affected the A's restarting training campGETTY IMAGES
The A's still have the the green light to return to Oakland and start playing baseball "even though Alameda County announced delays to its COVID-19 reopening timeline," as increases and hospitalization rates in the area "caused a temporary pause in reopening plans," according to Shayna Rubin of the San Jose MERCURY NEWS. The A's are "set to begin workouts at the Coliseum on Saturday with plans to start playing regular season games there later this month," and according to the county, "nothing has changed despite Monday's announcement." A's President Dave Kaval said of the county's announcement, "We agreed to higher health and safety standards than normal business operations. We need to adhere to the general county-wide provision, but the the operations we are conducting, the higher standard, they feel that can be done in a safe way that doesn't compromise the health and safety of everyone involved" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 7/1).
SEAT FILLERS: In S.F., Matt Kawahara notes the A's yesterday announced that fans "can purchase a cutout featuring their photo to be placed in the Coliseum stands for the 2020 season." The cutouts will cost $49 for A's Access members and $89 for general fans. The club said that fans also can pay "$129 for a cutout in the 'Foul Ball Zone,' where a foul ball that knocks over a cutout will be sent to that fan." Seat requests are "not available but fans who buy cutouts will receive two tickets to the A's first home exhibition game in 2021, with proceeds from the 'Coliseum Cutouts' program going to benefit the Alameda County Community Food Bank, East Oakland Youth Development Center and Oakland's African American Chamber of Commerce" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/1).
