Tag: Oracle Park

Possible work stoppage for Giants opening day 2026 by ballpark workers podcast: Aramark technology expansion could slash jobs at Oracle Park

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Concession stands service employees at Oracle Park could be replaced by auto robots according to Local 2 Unite Here employees (photo by On Labor)

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Aramark, the official food and concessions supplier for the San Francisco Giants, is reportedly set to add more kiosks and other self-serve technology at concession stands throughout Oracle Park next season, according to sources at UNITED HERE Local 2, the union that represents employees of Aramark at Oracle Park.

At the start of this season, Aramark introduced Mashgin AI self-checkout kiosks for fans to access at Oracle Park. They were established at a new Doggie Diner Express stand on the promenade level behind section 112, as well as at nine Bayside Brews beverage markets located throughout the ballpark.

It now appears that this technology will expand to other locations in the ballpark next season. If it goes through, it could put the jobs of many of Aramark’s employees in jeopardy.

Aramark replaced Bon Appetit as the official food supplier for the Giants in 2024. However, UNITED HERE Local 2 and its employees have been a consistent presence serving Giants’ fans at Oracle Park for many years. Many of the workers were serving food at the ballpark, even for Bon Appetit’s predecessor, Center Plate.

Self-technology has been a contentious issue for the union and its workers going back to the fall of 2021. In September 2021, then-Bon Appetit workers authorized a strike over the working conditions at Oracle Park, following the return of fans to the park during the Covid Pandemic. A strike was averted, and another collective bargaining agreement was reached in March 2024.

We had a chance to interview Rhonda Mitchell Unite Here Union Local 2 who talked about the auto robots who are planned to replace food service workers at Oracle Park. Mitchell says that if this comes to fruition there could be a work stoppage that could threaten the Giants home opener in 2026.

In an interview with Local 2 Unite Here Oracle Park Shop Steward Rhonda S Mitchell she discussed the possibility of using auto robots to replace food service workers at Oracle Park:

#1 How much of the food services is being earmarked for auto replacement of the food service people.

#2 Aramark says they refuse to agree on future limits on automation. If that’s going to be iron clad what recourse does the union have.

#3 Under Bon Appetit same union Local 2 that last time the union had to call for a work stoppage.
An alleged offer of a 25-cent raise to San Francisco Giants’ concession workers is outdated information from September 2021. The offer was rejected by unionized workers, who authorized a strike against the food service contractor, Bon Appétit Management, and the Giants over wage and safety issues. The dispute was ultimately settled with a more substantial agreement. The food service workers actually blocked an aisle at Oracle Park to demonstrate the Bon Appetite 25 cent raise.

#4 How much influence or how much say does the Giants have in the idea of having robot auto food servers or what they expect from labor at the park?

#5 If Aramark were to get their way and install the auto robots talk about how much this impact workers and their families and benefits. I’m sure when the Oakland A’s moved from Oakland a lot of those workers were impacted by losing those jobs?

Stephen Ruderman was a San Francisco Giants beat writer for the 2025 season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Pecked and Beaten by the Cardinals 6-1 in the Final game of the season; lose series (2-1), finish two games below  .500 in contest #162

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San Francisco Giants starter Hayden Birdsong was dealing early in the game keeping the St Louis Cardinals off balance striking out 11 hitters. Things fell apart in the top of the fifth when Birdsong had left and gave up three unearned runs. (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The San Francisco Giants (80-82) finished the 2024 season on a sour note, by losing the last game 6-1 and series (2-1) of the year to the St. Louis Cardinals (83-79) in front of 32, 248 disappointed fans, Sunday Afternoon by the Bay at Oracle Park.

On a Noon start time and a pleasant 62 degrees in the City. the Giants were aiming to win the series and achieve the safe .500 status. However, the 6-1 loss put their record to two games below .500. at 80-82, instead of 81-81.

“Regardless of what our record was, it would have been disappointing, based on what we felt the team was all about at the beginning of the season.” Stated Giants Manager Bob Melvin about not reaching .500. “Either if it were 81-81 or 80-82 it still was not going to feel much better, regardless.”

The game itself got off to a slow start, as no one scored until the third inning. Unfortunately that happened to be the road team from the Midwest. The Cardinals went up 1-0 off the bat of second baseman Brendan Donovan, as he belted a solo home run to right field, near McCovey Cove.

Two innings later, Donovan was at it again as a run producer. This at bat he hit an RBI single, scoring shortstop Thomas Saggese. The Cardinals temporarily led 2-0. Then left fielder Alec Burleson duplicated the previous feat with his own RBI single. He plated Pedro Peges, putting them up 3-0 after 5 innings of play.

In the top of the sixth stanza, St. Louis decided to double their score, while still simultaneously shutting out the Giants. Third baseman Jose Fermin continued the RBI single barrage by knocking in outfielder Michael Siani, expanding the lead to four.

Burleson repeated his last plate appearance with–you guessed it–another RBI single; however, this line drive scored two runners (Jordan Walker & Fermin). The Birds from the LOU were up a whopping 6-0 at that juncture of the game.

The Giants did show enough pride to prevent an embarrassing shutout at the Oracle Park Finale in the bottom of the seventh inning, second baseman Brett Wisely was on the other end of the ever so common RBI single. His hit brought in infielder Casey Schmitt, eliminating the Goose Egg the Giants were facing as season’s end.

After seven innings, San Francisco was finally on the scoreboard and had two innings to mount a dramatic final comeback. That did not come to fruition, so the Giants had to settle for a 6-1 loss, and the distinction of finishing the season below the magic .550 line. This imaginary line delineates a winning or non-winning season in all sports.

That’s a WRAP for the 2024 MLB season for the two Bay Area teams. In the 2025 season, the Giants will have the nine county region all to themselves, as the the now former cross-Bay neighboring Oakland Athletics, will be relocating to the State Capital city of Sacramento, with the final destination being in Las Vegas in 2028 with their former roommate, the Raiders.

Oakland A’s relocation podcast Augie Mesenburg: Sacramento is A’s first choice for 2025 season; City of Oakland wants guarantee of expansion team

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Oakland A’s team president David Kaval has met with the Oakland Coliseum Joint Powers regarding a lease extension beyond 2024. The A’s could play the remaining three years at the Coliseum 2025-27 before the Tropicana ballpark is ready in Las Vegas (photo by ABC Sky7 still photo)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Augie:

#1 The Oakland A’s brass met with the Oakland Coliseum Joynt Powers. Seeing that players’ union most likely will not sign off to play in a minor league ballpark and most importantly the A’s don’t want to miss out on that $67 million annual television money from NBC Bay Area Sports California contract.

#2 There has been no disclosure to how much a year and how long the A’s will be staying at the Coliseum as the new park in Las Vegas is supposed to be ready by 2028. It’s sounding like it might be the three years 2025-27 to finish up in Oakland similar to what the Raiders did before they left Oakland for Las Vegas.

#3 Some are asking could this lead to something being worked out with the Mayor of Oakland and the City of Oakland for a chance that the A’s brass could re-visit Howard Terminal again? It doesn’t seem likely on the surface but there are two law suits coming from Strong Public Schools and Schools over Stadiums that will challenge the Nevada public funding of the Tropicana ballpark and the A’s might be looking at a back up plan.

#4 Augie, the A’s try hard as they may have not nailed down a location to play their games after 2024. A’s owner John Fisher and team president David Kaval have looked at numerous sites Las Vegas Ballpark (home of the A’s minor league triple A team), Sutter Health Park (home of the Sacramento Rivercats), Salt Lake City (home of the minor league Bees), and Oracle Park in San Francisco. All of the parks didn’t work out either it was a minor league park or at Oracle Park they would have to share it with the Giants and the Giants were concerned about the turf being torn up. The latest from Thursday’s news is Sacramento’s Sutter Health Ballpark is a front runner for the A’s in 2025.

#5 This might be more than just a kick the tires meeting to see if it’s worth to come back to the Coliseum after 2024 the A’s who were rumored at one point considering just shutting down operations between 2025-28 have not much choice and no where to go but the Coliseum until the new park in Vegas is ready that is if the Vegas ballpark can withstand the lawsuits by Schools over Stadiums and Strong Public Schools in Las Vegas.

Augie Mesenburg filled in for Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts heard Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com. Augie is also a reporter for KHAI FM 104.5 and AM 950 Honolulu.

Super Bowl LVII/Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: 49ers and Chiefs what are the differences in teams; Will A’s shutdown operations after 2024?

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Artists rendition of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback (13) Pat Mahomes standing in front of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (NFL.com image)

On Headlines Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, looking at the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LVIII what do you consider some of the key differences between the two teams?

#2 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he knew that quarterback Brock Purdy was going to be their quarterback based on what he had seen from former 49ers quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Looks like Shanahan called it.

#3 Charlie, some of the right wing have said that it’s a fix that the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl that the officials missed some calls in order for the Baltimore Ravens to lose to the Chiefs because they wanted a path for Chiefs Travis Kelce and superstar singer Taylor Swift to be the face of the Super Bowl. Some in the right think the Chiefs are also fixed to win the Super Bowl because of the Swiftie tie in. The thinking is the Chiefs winning would help influence President Biden’s re-election campaign with another Swift endorsement. What do you make of the still discussed story?

#4 Turning to Major League Baseball and the Oakland A’s ballpark saga, the latest for the A’s 2025-27 seasons has several candidates now with Salt Lake City supposedly running in the lead, Portland says they are welcoming the A’s and further saying if it doesn’t work out in Vegas the City of Portland will pay for the park, retail, ballpark village housing, ballpark and put it on the Red Tail Golf Course in Beaverton outside of Portland, Sacramento could be a surprise, Oracle Park looks like a long shot too much baseball for the field, Summerlin looks out of the hunt, and the Oakland Coliseum doesn’t look like it has a chance and John Fisher A’s owner owns half of the Oakland Coliseum property.

#5 The last option that has raised eye brows as well as the ire of the Players Union from reliable sources that the A’s would consider shutting down operations and not play for the next three years after the 2024 season is completed. The idea being that Fisher can save, raise funds for his share of the construction costs of building the Vegas Ballpark without having to pay for employees, players and contractors for three lame duck seasons.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s considering modeling Vegas park after Globe Life in Arlington

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Talk of the Oakland A’s modeling their new Las Vegas ballpark after Globe Life Field in Arlington complete with retractable roof. The Las Vegas A’s park is expected to be completed by 2028. (photo from Ballparks of Baseball)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal the Oakland A’s are looking at Globe Life Field in Arlington as a blue print for their Tropicana Ball Park. Globe Life was built in 2020 has a full retractable roof and seats 40,000. The A’s last proposal said they would seat 30,000 fans at the Tropicana in Vegas.

#2 A retractable roof at the A’s Vegas ball park most likely will only be opened maybe 10-11 times a season as it gets up to 102-1110 during the summer month of June, July and August. If the A’s have a retractable roof it will be at the cost of $100 million.

#3 Amaury, the A’s if they have the retractable roof will be using the park not only for baseball but for multi purpose events like concerts and public events. The question is can the A’s sell out every event like they say they can for the next 30 years some would say it’s doubtful.

#4 According to Dave Sampson the former Miami Marlins team president who podcasts on the show “Nothing Personal” said that the A’s deal to Vegas is not done yet despite the owners voting 30-0. There are two things that could hold things up John Fisher the team owner still needs to come up with his share of the construction money for the Vegas ballpark. Fisher is hedging his hopes that financing will be from tourism. The Vegas fan base will be too small to support the A’s but visitors from out of town are who the A’s are hanging their hats on.

#5 The question as to where the A’s play after 2024 is still up in the air as the Oakland Coliseum is the best location for the A’s to play 2025-27 in. The A’s have explored minor league parks and Oracle Park in San Francisco as places to go to but still don’t have an answer yet.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How serious is a deal for A’s playing last 3 years in San Francisco?; Dodgers top pick so far for Ohtani

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Former Los Angeles Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani won the 2023 AL MVP and is an odds on favorite to join the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2024 season. It’s yet to be determined. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Insiders have said that Oakland A’s president David Kaval after the MLB owners vote to move to Las Vegas that Oracle Park home of the San Francisco Giants could be the home of the A’s for the remaining three years 2025-27 while they wait for the Tropicana ballpark to be completed by 2028. How strong do you see that possibility.

#2 It’s ironic if the Giants were to allow the A’s to play at Oracle Park for the 2025-27 season in San Francisco after not allowing the A’s to have territorial rights to move to San Jose and now will allow them to come to Oracle and play their final three years in the San Francisco.

#3 No surprises here as former Los Angeles Angel Shohei Ohtani was named the AL MVP, Ohtani the two way player was 10-5 with an ERA of 3.14 pitching and hit .305 with 151 hits, 44 home runs, 102 runs, and 95 RBIs.

#4 Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuna Jr won the NL MVP hitting .337, 149 runs, 41 home runs, and 106 RBIs. Both Acuna and Ohtani won by unanimous decisions which is a first in the 92 years of the award.

#5 Ohtani is up for free agency is still waiting through the bidding and what team he would like to go and play for. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the odds on favorites in the Ohtani sweepstakes followed by the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with Charlie O: Will A’s finish up their Bay Area days at Oracle Park in San Francisco?

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Will Oracle Park be a landing place for the Oakland A’s after the 2024 season?, the A’s would not lose a share of Bay Area TV revenue between 2025-27 while the Tropicana Park is being built in Las Vegas (SF Travel file photo)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 How crazy will it be to have the San Francisco Giants host the Oakland A’s at Oracle Park in the 2025 through the 2027 seasons while the Tropicana is being built after the Giants would not cede South Bay territorial rights to the A’s.

#2 The A’s know they will not get the cut of Bay Area TV money if they were to play in Nevada or Sacramento and just to go ahead and finish they’re last three season in the Bay Area in San Francisco.

#3 The relationship between the City of Oakland and A’s owner John Fisher and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is so toxic because of how they got to this place it’s very unlikely the A’s will finish their last three seasons at the Oakland Coliseum.

#4 A’s fans led by the Oakland 68’s have called for a boycott, not a reverse boycott but a full on boycott for no one to show up at the A’s opening day game on Thu Mar 29th at the Coliseum against Cleveland.

#5 There has been some hope that Schools over Stadiums will get it together and get the court to approve their petition to get signed by some 102,000 Nevada residents, put the no public funding for the ballpark on the Nevada ballot for vote in Nov 2024 also Rep Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and Rep Mark DeSaulnier will introduce the “Moneyball act” a measure that would require Oakland A’s owner John Fisher or any Major League Baseball owner who relocates it’s team 25 miles from it’s former location to compensate their former community or MLB would lose it’s anti trust exemption.

Charlie O does Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Oakland Mayor wants to keep A’s name and wants an expansion team in exchange for lease extension

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Oakland Coliseum could be the home of the Oakland A’s from 2025-2027 if they can’t land either at Oracle Park in San Francisco or at the Las Vegas Ballpark while their new park at the Tropicana on the Las Vegas strip is under construction (AP file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, the Oakland A’s will still be at the Oakland Coliseum next season, the Nevada Independent reported that the A’s could make an early leap for Las Vegas but that has not been determined yet. The A’s are considering many venue options one of them is using their minor league facility in Vegas which the Aviators are using. A’s president David Kaval that there needs to be upgrades and the A’s might re-think using the Aviators 10,000 seat facility.

#2 The A’s reportedly have explored playing at the Oakland Coliseum until their new ballpark at the Tropicana on the strip is ready. There in lies the problem as Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao wants some concessions before the A’s get committed to the Coliseum as a lame duck team, one is the city of Oakland keeps the team name A’s and MLB commits to expanding to Oakland when expansion opens up.

#3 Kaval said that the decision of where the A’s will play after 2024 is totally up to MLB Commissioner and Rob Manfred. Kaval did say that the A’s have looked at three locations Oracle Park in San Francisco and share the park with the Giants, Aviators Park/Las Vegas ballpark in Vegas, and the Oakland Coliseum.

#4 Some have said that it’s a bad idea for the A’s to play at Aviators park because it becomes a spoiler to the A’s 2028 arrival and it kind of blows the hype of the team after being there for three years in the making and sharing the ballpark with the Giants might not be a good idea because that’s a lot of wear on the turf for 162 games.

#5 Staying at the Oakland Coliseum from 2025-2027 might be the best place and they might as well finish up what they started and visiting teams have said they want to play in Major League facility rather than playing in a minor league facility like Las Vegas.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Stephen Ruderman: San Francisco future home of Oakland A’s?; Two women survive shooting at White Sox-A’s game in Chicago; plus NFL news

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The Oakland A’s could make Oracle Park in San Francisco their 2025 home and share it with the San Francisco Giants until their new park is built in Las Vegas in 2028 (SF Travel photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Stephen, the Oakland A’s have presented the idea of working three different locations during the 2025 season after they finish their lease in 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum they are considering their minor league team the Las Vegas Aviators park, the Coliseum or Oracle Park home of the San Francisco Giants

#2 A’s president David Kaval said the final decision rests with MLB and the Commissioners office where the A’s would land in 2025 but the A’s could end up playing in either one of those locations or split up their home dates in all three locations.

#3 Shooting at White Sox Park on Friday night in the South Side of Chicago, the shooting that took place a mile away from Guarantee Rate Field that struck two women fans at the A’s and White Sox game. The two ladies were taken to Chicago University Medical Center for medical treatment and did not sustain life threatening injuries and it was reported they were shot in the leg the other woman was grazed in abdomen. The White Sox who had a concert scheduled at the end of the game which was canceled due to technical difficulties.

#4 Turning to the NFL and the Trey Lance trade to the Dallas Cowboys. Lance had a rough first game against the Las Vegas Raiders in week one of pre season he was sacked three times in four possessions and showed improvement against the Denver Broncos in week two of pre season but was traded none the less by the Niners in week three. According the head coach Kyle Shanahan Lance didn’t work out. Did he or did he not have anything left in the tank?

#5 Ironically Lance will face the Raiders a second time tonight this time as a Dallas Cowboy as the Cowboys host the Raiders at AT&T Stadium. Lance who was traded on Friday night will face the Raiders for a second time in pre season and hopes that the results will be better than the first time.

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s could be playing in San Francisco after 2024

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NBC Bay Area TV’s Raj Mathai (left) and Oakland A’s owner John Fisher (right) do an exclusive interview in Fisher’s home on Wed Aug 23, 2023 (NBC Bay Area photo)

A’s could be playing in San Francisco after 2024

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval, who was in Oakland recently prior to a game for the A’s team photo, narrowed the Oakland A’s temporary home (while they build in Las Vegas) to three sites, including Oracle Park in San Francisco.

This was reported by the Independent of Las Vegas, The A’s could make an early leap to Las Vegas in 2025, right after 2024 which is already set for the A’s to be played at Oakland, However, if the A’s and Giants come to an agreement, the A’s could be playing 30 to 40 “home” games at Oracle Park in 2025.

The Oakland A’s have submitted their application for relocation to Major League Baseball, owner John Fisher told ESPN, putting the team one step closer to becoming the Las Vegas A’s. Now it is all up to the MLB owners to approve.

A’s owner John Fisher answering to the cry of A’s fans to “sell the team”says: “I have not considered selling the team” and added “I’ve now owned the team with my partner Lew Wolff, it’s shocking really how the time time flies, but since 2005”.

Meanwhile the group “Schools not Stadiums” from Las Vegas still lobbying for the city of Las Vegas not to build a parks for the Oakland Athletics.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com