After years of not having public transit service the Dodgers' home in Chavez Ravine, the team and city of Los Angeles launched a shuttle bus service that takes fans from Union Station to Dodger Stadium.
"Dodger Trolley," which reportedly had 500-600 riders (1% of a capacity crowd) on its inaugural night, is free and runs every 10 minutes, starting at 90 minutes before first pitch until one hour after a game ends. The trip is 2.2 miles each direction (map). That's less than half the distance from Fremont BART to Pacific Commons, but nearly twice the distance of future shuttles to either the Warm Springs BART station or the planned Pacific Commons Amtrak/ACE station.
It's a great alternative to the hilly gridlock normally experienced at Dodger Stadium, where no other transit mode is expected to build an extension in the near or distant future. It should also serve as a harbinger for Chavez Ravine's future, in which the area surrounding the stadium will be largely developed.
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New Chear for fremont fans ...
"LET'S GO PARKING, LET'S GO TRAFFIC, LET'S GO CONGESTION, LET'S GO POLLUTION ..."
What's a chear?
I'll make sure to use that chant next game, when I notice that HALF the people taking the BART bridge are parking for free at the station lot.
Poor lad doesn't realize that describes the current situation in Oakland perfectly. Wow, the OAFC is actually getting dumber. Didn't think that was possible.
Why does everyone who is not in favor of the A's moving to Fremont have to be part of the OAFC...that assumption is ridiculous...I know plenty of people who aren't from Oakland or even know what the OAFC is and don't approve of the A's moving to Fremont...
And to answer the lingering question of "if the A's have so many supporters for staying in Oakland why didn't they show their support at the meetings?"...well some people have jobs and couldn't make it...others, didn't know there was a meeting at all...not everyone constantly checks on the status of the A's ballpark situation like we do...
Plain, I think the question is; if there are so many people who want the A's to stay in Oakland, why arn't they going to games.
And the reason why everyone pretty much assumes that the rabit Keep-A's-In-Oakland trolls are from the OAFC is because... well... almost all of them are.
Mr. P,
Maybe it's because they regurgitate the same tired, lame arguments, yet repeatedly fail to back up those arguments with reasoned, coherent responses.
Regarding the people you know who don't "approve" of the team moving to Fremont... the funny thing is they don't have to approve because they don't own the team. Now, of course, the can decide not to attend games; that's there prerogative. Just like it's the prerogative of South Bay residents to attend A's@Fremont games once it becomes convenient for them to do so.
Mr. Plainview,
I went to a keep the A's in Oakland rally. At the time, I lived in Sacramento and worked in Stockton.
In other words... bull crap.
I think the real question is how many a's fans are there really in the bay area anyway?
yes the team isn't that good, but I'd expect the core fan base to be better than 27th or 28th in mlb attendance if that fan base was anything of substance. especially since the current park has pretty good access and public transit options.
now, moving to fremont ... not sure that mediocre fan base will grow all of a sudden ... seems that the east bay crowd might be a bit alienated anyway since it's harder for them to access this park ... south bay? might get a few casual fans but alot of folks down that way are giants fans ... penninsula? nah, they have very easy access to at&t park ...
not sure how this park will work out especially with the difficult real estate environment we're in ... maybe slusser is right - and the plan is stalled.
From Trolley Dodgers to Dodger Trolleys...
Oh, sorry, didn't mean to go on topic.
Anon 9:59,
Oh Please!!! The plan is not stalled. If it were, don't you think the media would be all over that, instead of just a passing sentence in the middle of a column?
As has been mentioned here before, it takes years to build any project. The housing developers are not stalling just because the economy has. They are planning their projects for years to come and it is my understanding that Wolff has already held discussions with housing developers. Additionally, as has been discussed here, the housing component of the plan spans a 10-year buildout. But hey, don't be stalled by the facts.
And do you really believe that South Bay residents won't attend A's games when the ballpark is in their back yard, when their region is incorporated into the name, and when their employers are corporate sponsors, and when there are safe restaurants and bars to patronize pre- and post-game?
How many fans are there? Based on recent attendance figures, not many ... currently duking it out with the Rays (I know Tampa Bay is a huge market :-) for 27th place ... not many indeed.
I haven't checked every reference, but I know at least two of the writers who have mentioned it being stalled are vehemently against the new stadium. They're just spreading hearsay because it fits their viewpoint.
It's silly anyway. Unless they are privvy to Lew's negotiations with developers, there's nothing else to be stalled. The EIR is being developed. That's where we're at. That's what we're waiting for. It's not late. They haven't stopped working on it and, as far as we know, it's still on schedule.
Long time no post all! I've been fighting the California High Speed Rail battle elsewhere (yes to Prop. 1!!). As for Cisco Field, here's something I found at, of all places, the Santa Barbara News Press (love Santa Barbara by the way):
Rick Hurd,
Contra Costa Times
7/30/08
*But where that (A's) future will take place remains in as much question as ever, especially after managing partner Lew Wolff told Bay Area News Group he's unsure if the team's attempt to build a new state-of-the-art ballpark in Fremont will succeed. "I don't know. I honestly don't," Wolff said Wednesday when asked if Cisco Field will come to fruition. "But say it doesn't. We're still under a lot of pressure to get a park that is our own. That isn't going away. So my hope is that we'll find a way to make it happen. It has not been as easy as I thought it would be."*
You know, I'm wondering if Mr. Wolff learned anything from his good friend Jerry Reinsdorf (Chi. White Sox owner). While attempting to get Illinois legislators to fund a new ballpark (now US Cellular Field), Reinsdorf explained, "a savvy negotiator creates leverage. People had to think we were going to leave Chicago." Perhaps people have to think the A's are headed to Fremont? Mr. Reinsforf was also known as a negotiator who "lets things linger until he gets what he wants." Pacific Commons sure is lingering, wouldn't you say. And wasn't Mr. Wolff quoted a few years back as being the worlds "best negotiator?" Anyhow, those parcels at Diridon South are being "land banked" by SJ as we speak. If anyone's interested in the Reinsdorf piece, go to:
www.chequer-board.net/story/2005/
11/13/23170/625
I used to work at Metro's HQ right there at Union Station...man, took 'em long enough to get this shuttle going. Wish they had that then (I'm in OR now, woot for no smog). Seems like such an obvious concept, with the difficult traffic situation they've always had. A glorious day for L.A.
Man fuck that shit. Oakland A's fans love the A's and of course would hate to see the Oakland A's go to a nobody town JUST because Fremont can afford to keep them. What about the Oakland A's fans who can't always go to the games because of financial situations? We some proud people and we always support and root on our teams, but sometimes we have to do that at home because we have other things to think about like finding a way to keep a roof over our children's heads or keep them safe and fed? Trust me, Oakland A's fans would love to attend all the games and if I could I would,but financially, most can't. So unless, somebody is willing to give all the residents in Oakland, especially the low-income residents in East Oakland some extra funds, going to all the games ain't gonna happen son.
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