Everything You Need To Know About Oakland Fan Fest Moves Without Prominent East Bay Beer Vendor
In Oakland, California, preparations were in full swing on Friday for the Oakland Fan Fest, an event aimed at celebrating the city’s sports teams, which are deeply rooted in its identity. Organized by the Oakland 68’s and Last Dive Bar, two groups dedicated to supporting Oakland sports, the fest comes at a crucial time, particularly following the announcement by the Athletics of their plans to relocate to Las Vegas.
Raffle prizes, live music and a lot of beer. Tomorrow is Oakland fan fest and the set up is underway. It’s being put on by Oakland sports fans, and no the A’s are not invited. The event is about celebrating the town and the teams who proudly call Oakland home. @abc7newsbayarea pic.twitter.com/fb2ca5Pn7M
— Ryan Curry (@RyanCurryTV) February 24, 2024
Bryan Johansen, the event organizer and founder of Last Dive Bar, emphasized the importance of honoring the fans and the city’s culture. He expressed the necessity of giving back, which motivated the organization of the event.
However, one of the prominent Bay Area breweries, Drake’s Brewing Company, pulled out from participating a few days before the event citing “unforeseen circumstances.” Speculations arose among some organizers regarding the involvement of the Athletics in this decision, although the team denied any connection when approached by ABC7 News. Drake’s Brewing Company has yet to respond to requests for comment.
But this is interesting. Drake's Brewing pulled out of the event this week due to "unforeseen circumstances" and that was all they said. The A's apparently told another event sponsor to not go, and the organizers think they might be behind this as well. https://t.co/1QcZDBPN03
— Ryan Curry (@RyanCurryTV) February 24, 2024
Despite this setback, the organizers turned adversity into opportunity. They announced Drake’s cancellation publicly, leading to several other breweries stepping up to fill the gap almost immediately.
Johansen expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response, with six beer vendors signing on and other non-beer vendors expressing interest, albeit constrained by limited space. This outpouring of support bolstered the organizers’ belief that this year’s Fan Fest will be the largest in recent memory.
The event promises live music, raffle prizes, and autograph signings, aiming to reignite enthusiasm among fans for Oakland’s home teams. Paul Freedman, co-founder of the Oakland Ballers, highlighted the resilience of the Oakland fan base and the city itself, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming event as a testament to that resilience.