What to Wear to an Oakland Athletics Game?
Whether you live in the Oakland area, the surrounding metropolitan cities, or are simply visiting from out-of-town, attending an Oakland Athletics game can be one of the most enjoyable and exciting experiences you’ll have.
With the area surrounding RingCentral Coliseum, having been recently renovated, you’ll find a plethora of food and drink options to keep you busy both before and after the baseball game.
And whether it’s your first time to RingCentral Coliseum or you’re a season ticket holder, attending an Oakland Athletics game can be loads of fun for the entire family. But before you head out to the local game, you may be wondering, what exactly should I wear to an Oakland Athletics game?
Below, we’re going to review what to wear to an Oakland Athletics game and provide you with options to ensure you blend in perfectly with the local crowd and other Athletics fans.
And because the Athletics wear a mix of green and gold with white shoes, these clothing pieces will go perfectly with many of your other outfits as well!
Planning on attending an Oakland Athletics game? See how long an average A’s game is before you go!
Things to do Around RingCentral Coliseum
Let’s be honest, in the heart of Oakland, California, there are a plethora of options and things to do both before and after an Athletics game.
And whether you’re getting to RingCentral Coliseum by foot or taxi, you’ll have plenty of options for food, drink, and entertainment.
- Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park – the Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is located in the hills east of Oakland. The park contains the largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood found in the East Bay and is part of a historical belt of coast redwood extending south to Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve and east to Moraga.
- Oakland Museum of California – the Oakland Museum of California first opened its doors in 1969, bringing together three independent disciplines; art, history, and natural sciences, under one roof. With more than 1.9 million objects, the museum is one of the largest in California and will provide ample opportunities to explore seminal art works, historical artifacts, ethnographic objects, natural specimens, and photographs.
- Oakland Zoo – the Oakland Zoo is located in the Grass Valley neighborhood of Oakland. It was established in 1922 and is managed by the Conservation Society of California. Home to more than 850 native and exotic animals, the zoo is recognized for its leadership in animal welfare, care, and sustainability.
General Weather Conditions in Oakland
Once you’ve found a list of things to do both before and after the Athletics game, it is important to plan your outfit.
However, doing so requires understanding the general weather conditions and climate in Oakland and near RingCentral Coliseum.
Generally, Oakland has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, with an average of 260 sunny days per year. In general, the city features warm, dry summers, and cool, wet winters.
But do note, that due to the Mediterranean climate, Oakland does experiences a higher than normal amount of sun and sunny days throughout the year. And while it does rain in Oakland, the average rainfall is far less than in other major cities in North America.
During the MLB season, and for when the Oakland Athletics play at their home stadium, that is between the months of April through October, the weather generally remains within a low of 50-degrees to a high of 75-degrees.
Of course, these conditions can fluctuate, but generally the weather in Oakland can get slightly chilly during the winter months and hot and dry during the summer ones.
Preparing for an Oakland Athletics Game
Due to the fluctuations in weather in Oakland, you should prepare yourself for both hotter and colder conditions. Although the temperature does drop a bit as the sunsets, with the longer summer days, you may still feel the warmth and tinge of the sun against your skin as the game starts.
As such, it is always recommended to apply sunscreen before heading out to a game and when in the sun for prolonged periods of time. Sunscreen is one of the best forms of protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays.
In addition to reducing the risk of sunburn, sunscreen can dramatically reduce your risk of skin cancer. Statistics have shown that by the age of 70, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer.
However, you can lower your risk by using sunscreen with a minimum rating of SPF 30 or higher when you are planning on being out in the sun for prolonged periods of time.
Similarly, be sure to drink copious amounts of hydrating liquids, including water and sports drinks to help against the heat. These drinks will also help to keep you hydrated and will ensure that you remain active and awake during the game.
However, as Oakland does experience plenty of sunny days and a beating sun, we do recommend bringing along an umbrella to the game to give you some relief from the sun.
We generally prefer to bring along an all-weather umbrella, such as this elite series by BNF. Strong and durable, this umbrella really does offer some of the best protection against the elements that Oakland so famously has.
Alternatively, if you’re worried about some light rain, many visitors to RingCentral Coliseum will simply don a plastic, reusable raincoat, which we have done ourselves. However, as rain is not very prominent in the Oakland area, we always recommend checking the local weather forecast before doing so.
A Baseball Cap
One of the best, and easiest, pieces of clothing to wear to an Oakland Athletics game is none other than a baseball cap. Not only will a baseball cap help you to avoid the beating sun on your forehead and in your eyes, but most baseball caps feature the logo of the team you are rooting for.
Now, and unlike many other MLB teams, the Oakland Athletics have a wide-range and selection of available and authentic hats and caps for every occasion and style. And while we all love more choices, with so many options, it can honestly become a bit overwhelming.
If you’re looking for a more retro look, you really can’t go wrong with the Oakland Baseball Retro Oak Snapback Hat. Utilizing the Athletics’ green color, the hat features two criss-crossed baseball bats with the initials of ‘OKA’ to represent the team.
However, if you want a more classic Oakland Athletics hat, then you really have to go with the New Era MLB Classic 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Cap. Famous for its simplicity, this hat has an all-green background with the famous Athletics logo in a bold font on the front.
Oakland Athletics T-Shirt or Jersey
When it comes to upper wear, honestly the best options when going to a baseball game are to rep the team’s jerseys or a t-shirt with their logo. Both options are easy and generally affordable and will also allow you to showcase your team fandom.
However, we personally have never been fans of wearing team jerseys due to their relative tightness around the arms.
In addition, team jerseys can be quite costly, sometimes coming to several hundreds of dollars. Rather, we generally opt for a short or long-sleeved shirt with the team logo, name, or phrase.
When it comes to choosing a shirt to wear to the Oakland Athletics game, we personally prefer short-sleeve shirts.
Being that the Athletics play in Oakland, you should likely expect warmer weather and a short-sleeve t-shirt should help to keep you cool against the warm weather and beating sun overhead.
Again, with the warmer weather and beating sun, we like to opt for a lighter material and sweat-wicking material and really like the Oakland Athletics Cool Base Crew Neck Jersey T-Shirt.
Comfortable and with moisture wicking properties, this shirt will help ensure you keep cool during the entire duration of the game.
However, if you’re looking for a simple, 100% cotton t-shirt, then keep it simple with the MLB Oakland Athletics T-Shirt.
Simple, relatively affordable, and featuring both the logo and team name inscribed on the shirt, you’ll be able to showcase your fandom with ease. In addition, due to its simplicity, you will be able to pick-and-match a plethora of hat and pant options with the shirt.
Joggers or Athletic Pants
Interestingly enough, we typically opt to go for a pair of joggers or athletic pants when going to an Athletics game. The reason is that while the weather may be warmer on some days, rain showers can occur at almost any time.
And we’re really not fans of wearing wet jeans.
However, we generally like to go for comfort over style, especially while at the ballgame. And if the weather will be warm and hot, you don’t want to feel sweaty and uncomfortable throughout the duration of the game.
Rather, upon confirming that the weather will remain warm and sunny, opting for shorts or pants which are a bit loose and will allow your legs to breathe and not feel enclosed is a great option.
By far our favorite joggers are from Vuori.
A bit more expensive than other options, these joggers are insanely comfortable. In fact, you’ll feel like you’re wearing nothing at all with them on.
Vuori makes great joggers for both men and women and with a plethora of color options, you’ll be able to find the perfect ones to fit with your Athletics gear.
Sunglasses
Lastly, if you are planning on attending an Oakland Athletics game set for the middle of the day, it may be worthwhile to bring along a pair of sunglasses. With the sun directly overhead, it may be difficult to view what is happening on the field without sunglasses.
Further, sunglasses should be able to help you avoid squinting and causing strain to your eyes. And while you could opt for a pair of smart glasses, you really don’t have to and a simple pair should suffice for the day.
And while there are plenty of sunglass options, we like to keep it simple and classy. A pair of aviators always gets the job done and looks stylish in the process.