The Oakland Coliseum (now RingCentral) has been at the center of many stadium battles during the past few years. The 50+ year-old stadium has been criticized for its inadequacy as a professional stadium. For fans going to an A's game, this criticism is not limited to the structure itself - but also to the overall fan experience and atmosphere. As the last remaining multi-purpose football/baseball stadium (pending a Raiders move), the stadium offers some of the worst sitelines for both football and baseball games. Continue reading to maximize your experience and to get the best views for an A's game at the Coliseum.
Some of our favorite seats in all of baseball are the loge seats at Dodger Stadium and Yankee Stadium. They hang over the lower seating deck and make you feel like you're sitting on top of the field. That closeness is what's missing from the Coliseum for baseball games. With a tremendous amount of foul territory, the front rows of the 100 level are the equivalent of being 10-15 rows back at any other stadium. Instead of aiming for seats that will give you a close view of the field, we recommend choosing seats with the most comfortable view.
In our opinion, the most comfortable views are found on the Plaza Level (200s sections). These seats are generally well-angled to the field and their elevation makes it easy to see side-to-side. While they're obviously not as close to the field as the aforementioned seats at Dodger and Yankee Stadiums, these are similar loge-style seats at the Coliseum. For the best overall views in these sections, we recommend sitting in row 4 or higher. The first row is often used as a walkway by fans, which can be highly distracting if they move around while the game is live. Second, a large railing is situated at the front of these sections which severely limits how you see the game.
Among lower level sections, you will find outstanding views in the lower rows of sections 116-118. In fact - besides for the Diamond Level seats directly in front of these - rows 13-20 in these sections are the best seats at the Coliseum. The seats are elevated above the Diamond Level which makes it easier to see the field. You also have fewer fans sitting in front of you and you feel about as close to the field as you can get at an A's game.
If seats behind home plate and near the dugouts are out of your budget, consider the sections all the way down the foul line in left and right field. Specifically, we recommend tickets in the first few rows of section 104 in right field and 129 and 130 in left field. These sections are as close to the field as you would expect out of a baseball-only stadium, and they provide excellent sitelines back towards home plate. Just keep in mind that right field is the sunny side, so you may want to skip out on section 104 if the sun is going to be a factor.
One final set of seats that may show up on your radar if you're looking for a home plate view are Value Deck sections 316-318. These sections are located directly behind home plate and offer a birds eye view of the game. However, the railings and signage at the front of the upper deck can severely limit your view of home plate. When you consider that these are the only sections open on the 300 level and they are horribly exposed to the sun, they are worth skipping altogether.
Rows 1-7 in Sections 104, 129 and 130
- As close to fair territory as you can get at the Coliseum
- Good sitelines back towards the infield for a comfortable view
- One of the lowest ticket prices among reserved 100 level seats
Rows 13-20 in Sections 116, 117 and 118
- Absolute best views from the 100 level
- Unobstructed sitelines from behind home plate
- Elevated over the Diamond Level seats for better-than-expected views
- Loge-style seating provides a comfortable, elevated view of the ballpark
- Located on the less-sunny side of the field where the sun will be setting behind you instead of in your face
- Close to a variety of concessions and amenities on the plaza concourse
Rows 28-34 in Sections 120, 121, 122 and 123
- Comfortable views of the field and scoreboard from behind the Athletics dugout
- Located near the section entrance for quick trips to and from the concourse
- Among the first seats on the lower level to be shaded
