Oakland Ballers Transform Legacy BART Car Into Concession Stand After A’s Rejection

By Lena Howland | April 17, 2025 | KGO*

Oakland’s independent baseball team, the Oakland Ballers, are giving new life to a retired piece of Bay Area history—one that was originally meant for a very different team.

On Thursday morning, the Ballers received a legacy BART car at Raimondi Park, a gift from Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). The 50-year-old transit car, once used to ferry commuters across the Bay Area, is being repurposed into a concession stand set to open next season.

This same car was initially promised to the Oakland Athletics as a tribute to their Bay Area history. But in 2023, the A’s formally declined the offer as they shifted their focus toward relocating to Las Vegas.

That decision opened the door for the Ballers, who quickly seized the opportunity.

“We want Raimondi Park to feel like a living museum,” said Casey Pratt, VP of Communications and Fan Entertainment for the Ballers. “This is going to be a big step in honoring Bay Area history and giving it new life.”

The transformation of the BART car will take place off-site over the next year. Once complete, it will serve as a centerpiece at Raimondi Park, reflecting the Ballers’ mission of honoring and preserving local culture.

In keeping with that mission, the team has also added two familiar figures to the park—Stomper statues that were once part of the Oakland A’s promotional efforts. These were donated by the Oakland Zoo and Visit Oakland following the A’s departure from the city.

The Ballers plan to house these statues in a whimsically named section of the park: “Scrappy’s Sanctuary for Lost Animals,” a nod to Oakland’s resilience and quirky charm.

With these efforts, the Ballers continue to position themselves not just as a team, but as stewards of Oakland’s sports heritage and community spirit.