What is a reverse boycott? Why are the Oakland A’s fans protesting the team’s ownership?
So, you’ve probably heard of the ongoing battle between the Oakland A’s and their fanbase, but what you might not know is exactly what it’s all about.
What’s wrong with Oakland? As yet another sports franchise prepares to pack its bags and head to Las Vegas, one has to wonder why and moreover what’s about to happen now that fans of the Oakland A’s have decided they’re not about that life.
What’s going on with the Oakland A’s
With the Oakland A’s now set to relocate to Las Vegas, it would be fair to say that fans have taken serious issue with the planned move. Indeed, fans organized and executed a ‘reverse boycott’ during Tuesday’s game against the Rays, filling the Oakland Coliseum in the process, while giving away T-shirts that read “SELL.” Yet, just what does that mean exactly? To be clear, more than 27,000 fans attended with every one of them screaming “sell the team.” Strange, considering that the team itself went on to win its 7th straight game with two exciting runs scored in the late innings.
Of course, the entire affair was meant to create a sarcastic rebuttal to the proposed plan. For starters, it was a clear indication that there is enough love for the team that fans are still able to fill the stadium. On the other hand, some criticized the idea by alluding to the fact that it did nothing more than make A’s owner John Fisher a lot of money. For their part, the A’s were quick to announce that they will be donating $800,000 from ticket sales to charity. Yet, the reality can’t be denied that the A’s have a subpar roster, a stadium that’s in disrepair, and the worst attendance record in MLB with 8,555 on average.
There’s more to the Athletics reverse boycott
Though we’ve explained things on the surface level, context is everything in this one. Firstly, we’ve got the roster itself which has seen a number of high-profile departures like Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, and Sean Murphy. Then, we’ve got the Coliseum itself which offers obstructed views of the field, and even a possum that was said to be living in the broadcast booth. Not a good look to say the least. At any rate, it’s now clear that fans want both the team and its ownership to know, they will stick by their players and coaches no matter what.
“I’ve been an A’s fan since the early 2000s,” fan Dawn Pieper said to the media. “[Her husband] and (former player) Mark Ellis made me fall in love with the A’s. I’m not at all surprised how big the reverse boycott has become and how much traction it’s getting nationally. Never, ever underestimate A’s fans. We are an incredibly loyal and passionate group. We will never give up and we will fight to the end to keep our team in Oakland.”
Why the 13th of June?
Being just another Tuesday in June, a month during which attendance numbers at any stadium aren’t particularly high, the A’s fans seized on the opportunity to make their voices heard. Indeed, with more than $30,000 raised for the event, the first 7,000 fans through the turnstiles were gifted one of the above-mentioned “SELL” t-shirts which only further cemented the point that the A’s are not a team without support despite their current situation. Ultimately, it may not serve to halt the pending move, but it’s clear that fans in Oakland are willing to fight tooth and nail to see their team stay.