‘I’m tired of being treated like this’
Season ticket holders revolt after hiked prices
Margie Kahn fell in love with the Oakland A’s in 1988. The voices of broadcasters Lon Simmons and Bill King lured her into the fandom, then the A’s World Series title and success that followed swayed her to buy a season ticket in 1991.
Though three decades as a season ticket holder, the A’s leanest years far outweighed the franchise’s triumphs. A move to southern California to take care of her ailing mother limited her baseball watching time, too. But her fandom never wavered: Kahn always made sure to renew her season tickets.
But doubled season ticket prices for 2022 without any explanation from A’s management was the final straw for Kahn, 70, who called her longtime ticket representative at the A’s and said she would not renew.
“Please refund the money because I’m not supporting this team,” she told them. “I’m tired of being treated like this.”
Kahn isn’t the only A’s fan upset at the extreme price hike for season tickets. Amid the team’s disappointing spiral out of postseason contention in 2021 and front office threats to relocate the team to Las Vegas, season ticket holders received an email in September asking fans to renew their seats at hiked prices for up to double the cost of their pre-pandemic season tickets.
Tickets for a single game in her section 217, the second deck behind home plate, Kahn used to re-sell for $30 pre-pandemic. With new pricing, she would have to sell for $60 in 2022 — a price her frequent buyers said they wouldn’t consider paying to watch games at the Coliseum.
Adding salt to the wound, the Sept. 22 email asked fans to renew by Oct. 1 — one week later — for a chance to watch a game in a complimentary suite and a free Matt Olson jersey.
“Matt Olson jersey? Are you kidding?” Kahn said. “Matt Olson might not even be with the team in April.”
The sting of a hiked price only worsened when the team she stood by for three decades couldn’t provide any explanation for the staggering costs. It didn’t match up with team president Dave Kaval’s over-zealous commitment to transparency and the fan experience in years past; Kahn offered feedback during Kaval’s open office hours years ago. Now he’s gone silent when the fans need an explanation.
“He used to say ‘I’ll bring a hot dog to your seat if you aren’t happy,’ now he won’t say anything,” Kahn said. “I felt taken advantage of, and not respected as a long-time fan over 30 years. It feels like the front office and management has turned their backs on season ticket holders. I’m a business owner myself, couldn’t double my rates without explanation without assuming my clients would leave. And I don’t think they care.”
Kaval remains silent on the matter. No one from the A’s front office has responded to requests from this news organization to explain the hike in season ticket costs.