The A’s final game in Oakland made Thursday an emotional scene at the Coliseum for the team and the people who have followed them for their 57-year run in the East Bay.
Parking lots were scheduled to open at 8 a.m. and actually opened early to let in the fans who were already waiting to begin their final pregame tailgates.
The BART bridge was hopping with vendors and fans in the hours before the game, and A’s legends Rickey Henderson and Dave Stewart threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Former Oakland ace Barry Zito surprised fans by singing the national anthem a capella-style, and the pregame festivities were complete with a flyover.
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Fans brought their grills, signs and all sorts of green and gold memorabilia to send their players off in style. It was a sun-soaked day in Oakland for the 46,889 fans in the crowd, the highest attendance for an A’s game this season.
The A’s will wrap up the season with a three-game set in Seattle, their final games representing Oakland before they head to Sacramento to play in a minor-league park before they expect to open a new ballpark in Las Vegas.
Thursday, though, was a chance to celebrate the team and the fan community one last time.
Lifelong A’s fan Donna Fong, from Alameda, carries a homemade sign to her seats at the Coliseum, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, to watch the Athletics final home game in Oakland, Calif. Fong has been coming since the A’s inaugural season in 1968.(Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Oaland Athletic greats Dave Stewart and Rickey Henderson throw out the first pitch for the final game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics legends Dave Stewart and Rickey Henderson share a moment in the dugout before the Oakland Athletics’ last game played at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The Athletics played the Texas Rangers for their final home game before moving to Sacramento next season. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
A’s fan Molly Mills, of Alameda, holds a handmade sign during their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Mills has been an A’s fan since 1996. Today the Oakland Athletics played the Texas Rangers for their final home game in Oakland before moving to Sacramento next season. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Tailgaters get a group photo before the Oakland Athletics play against the Texas Rangers for their A’s last game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The Athletics will play their final home game before moving to Sacramento next season. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Lifelong A’s fan Maria Pineda arrives early for her final Athletics home game at the Coliseum, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. .(Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Super A guy made it to the Oakland Athletics final game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, remaining hopeful that their move to Sacramento and Las Vegas ends up falling through. Though he won’t take it to Sacramento, should they go, he will not be retiring the 11-year-old costume. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn (70) throws the first pitch of the game in the first inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Today the Oakland Athletics played the Texas Rangers for their final home game in Oakland before moving to Sacramento next season. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
An A’s fan holds up a sign while walking the lower concourse during their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Today the Oakland Athletics played the Texas Rangers for their final home game in Oakland before moving to Sacramento next season. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics fan Ezperana Uruena, of El Cerrito, heads to the Coliseum for the last Oakland Athletics game in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Today, the Oakland Athletics will play their final home game against the Texas Rangers before moving to Sacramento next season. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
An Oakland Athletics waks around withan A’s flag during the last game played at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The Athletics played the Texas Rangers for their final home game before moving to Sacramento next season. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Hall of Famer Big Head race mascot Dennis Eckersley watches the game from left field during their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Today the Oakland Athletics played the Texas Rangers for their final home game in Oakland before moving to Sacramento next season. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A’s fan Mark Garcia, of Danville, wears his decorated firefighter helmet during their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Today the Oakland Athletics played the Texas Rangers for their final home game in Oakland before moving to Sacramento next season. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
The Oakland Athletics take the field for the final home game against the Texas Rangers at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. After 57 years, the team is leaving its home in Oakland. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)