BART, fireworks fiasco in the offing weeks ago

Team was told on May 28 that show would outlast train service

The A’s knew for weeks that a transportation problem was brewing for their big fireworks game Friday night, emails obtained by this news organization show.

The pyrotechnic spectacle, following the game against the Boston Red Sox, was supposed to cement a return to normal after the A’s lifted capacity limitations at the Coliseum this week. But fans hoping to ride BART to the Coliseum and back learned only this week that the last trains would leave the station before it was over.

BART first informed the A’s on May 28 it would be unable to accommodate fans following the postgame fireworks and expressed the need to “aggressively communicate” the shortcoming of service.

The A’s didn’t do that until this week, with two emails to ticket holders and a public message on social media.

Within hours of the team’s official message,

A’s president Dave Kaval posted his own Wednesday evening.

“Super disappointed that (BART) won’t be running trains after our big fireworks night especially since they ran trains for the (Giants) similar games,” he wrote on Twitter. “I hope they reconsider their decision. We should not receive lower service levels here in the East Bay.”

The following afternoon, approximately 28 hours before first pitch Friday night, the A’s abruptly cut off ticket sales at about 35,000, citing the lack of transit service. (The last BART trains were scheduled to depart between 10:14 and 10:24 p.m., as normal, after the final out but too early for the anticipated conclusion of the fireworks show.)

A spokesperson for the A’s said the team held off notifying fans because it was holding out hope for a last-minute change of heart from BART.

The series of emails between the A’s and BART begins May 28 with David Rinetti, the longtime vice president of stadium operations, mentioning the A’s plans for a “grand reopening with a fireworks show.” Rinetti wrote that the A’s were “hop(ing) to get a large crowd that evening” and knew the fireworks show would send revelers across the BART bridge to the Coliseum Station “somewhere around 11 pm that night.”

John McCormick, the director of operations planning for BART, replied about four hours later, notifying Rinetti that “our last trains for the A’s special night game service would dispatch before your fireworks start. ...

“Attendees taking BART would need to cross the pedestrian bridge before it is closed for the fireworks show, and the station would be closed to incoming passengers by the time the fireworks show ends.”

On June 1, another BART official, communications officer Alicia Trost, followed up with an email to emphasize the need to “aggressively communicate to A’s fans and BART riders the timing of the last trains well in advance to people making their transportation decisions for nights with fireworks.”

She recommended that the A’s include a note on the promotional calendar and a prompt during the ticket-sales process.

As of Friday afternoon, the A’s online promotional calendar had no mention of the lack of BART service following the fireworks, nor did the fireworks promotion tab. Two clicks away from their home page, under the transportation tab, a notice was posted sometime after June 1 that fans would need to be on the platform by 10:10 p.m. or to arrange alternative transportation.

A team spokesperson said the first email went out to ticket holders on Tuesday.

The first time the A’s broadcast the information publicly, besides the note on a page of their website, came in a tweet just after 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Kaval followed with his own posts about two hours later.

The email thread shows no communication between the sides after June 23.

On June 22, BART posted a notice to its website, which Trost shared with the A’s.

“We are hoping the A’s can help us communicate to fans that if they take BART on July 2 they can’t stay for the fireworks,” she wrote. “Is there a way to email ticket holders or something like that?”

Rinetti’s last email in the exchange arrived just before 8 p.m. on June 23. He said the organization’s communications department was “putting together messaging for the game on the second.” There would be “a lot of social media involved,” he said.

But not being able to ride BART Friday night following the game was a major letdown for many A’s fans.

“It’s unfortunate as long time A’s fans. On Fireworks Night, or any night, it’s really easy to take BART. ... So, super disappointed,” said Jessica Davila of Pleasanton, who rode the train to the game with her husband, Gary.

She said the trains are usually packed on fireworks nights, but Friday’s train to the Coliseum was practically empty.

“I understand with preCOVID and everything (BART has) to cut back but being adaptable is super important, especially for their business,” Davila said. “They’re missing out on a lot of business. It’s unfortunate for the Coliseum because it affects both of them.”

MANAEA, TRIVINO SWEEP AL PITCHINGAWARDS>>

The Oakland A’s put together a 17-9 record in the month of June and two players received monthly honors for helping the team get there.

Sean Manaea was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for June and Lou Trivino was named the AL’s Reliever of the Month.

Manaea posted a 1.13 ERA over five starts in June. He held batters to a .181 average with 34 strikeouts, 10 walks and just one home run allowed.

Trivino allowed just one run in the month of June, and had 11 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings with three walks and 10 hits allowed.

STEPHEN PISCOTTY’S PROGRESS>>

Piscotty will go on a rehab assignment this weekend with Low-A Stockton Ports and play with them today and Sunday. Piscotty has been out with a left wrist sprain since June 17.

NICK ALLEN MAKES TEAM USA, WILL PLAY IN OLYMPICS >>

A’s minor league infielder Nick Allen is headed to Tokyo to play for Team USA in the Olympic Games.

Allen, the A’s No. 3 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is one of five infielders selected for the 24-man Olympic roster. Other members of Team USA include exA’s pitchers Edwin Jackson, who last played in the majors in 2019, and Scott Kazmir, who is currently in the Giants organization.