The Oakland Raiders are getting ready for another NFL season and while they are away, the Oakland A's use the Oakland Coliseum and on Sunday things got a bit gross for the Athletics and the visiting Mariners, as there was a sewage leak in the stadium.
According to the Associated Press, the Mariners and Athletics needed to use the same lockers after the 10-2 win by Oakland on Sunday, as there was a backup of sewage that spilled out into the clubhouse level of the stadium. The two teams needed to move up to the Oakland Raiders locker room to shower and dress and it brought up questions about the old stadium, which has done some upgrades but is still behind many in the league.
The stadium is nearly 50 years old now and for years players have been complaining and pitcher AJ Griffin said after the game that everyone should realize that a new stadium is needed in Oakland. Even in the NFL it's an issue, as many players have complained about how the team shares with the Athletics, forcing the first to stay on during the first part of the NFL season. During a six day home stand officials said over 170,000 fans came and that is why the pipes had issues.
The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that leak issues are a problem all the time, as the field is below sea level and so is the clubhouse. A's team president Michael Crowley said that it is clear that new upgrades are needed and many players as well as M's manager Eric Wedge skipped showers. Wedge had his office covered in liquid and he had his post-game conference in the hallway instead. The Mariners won two of three and then will play the Angels, while the A's are heading out to play the Rangers.
