. >> library to ballparks. doug >> you had this incredibly distinguished career as an architectural critic, which maybe not everybody -- i mean people are really here to hear you talk about stadiums in the end, but i first want to have you talk to the audience about who you are and what you have done prior to writing about ballparks. it's a long story, but we can get some of it anyway. >> i spent most of my life -- i've been very lucky because i spent most of my life writing about interests me. >> so have you,. >> it interest to whether it ticks you off or you like it. i have always loved architecture and journalism. i'm not very good at making choices so i found a place where to intersected. i spent most of my life writing about architecture. >> did you study architecture? >> i studied architectural history. i went to yale. for those of you who went to preston, i know you don't always acknowledge it, but nonetheless -- a little bit to the north. a place i call connecticut. i studied architectural history. art

book "ballpark: baseball and the >> paul goldberger discusses his book "ballpark: baseball and the american city." exploring baseball and the american cities, changes of locations and ballparks over the years and what they reveal about society and culture at large. the kansas city public library hosted this discussion and provided the video. >> i want to thank the library for putting on the event, the library board, jonathan kemper and the staff that work with us, steve woolfolk, the library is a fantastic institution and we're lucky to have it. look at this awesome auditorium. speaking of great public spaces, this is one. >> yes. >> all right, paul. >> libraries and ballparks, two most important things in the city. right? >> you've had this distinguished career as an architectural critic which maybe not everybody -- i mean people are here really to hear you talk about kauffman stadium in the end. >> right. >> have you talked to the audience about who you are and what you've done prior to writing about ballparks which is a long story. >> a long story. >> i've spent most of my life -- i've b

bit it was a wonderful ballpark.he best of those early generation ballparks law -- they were among the only buildings ever built that sort of combined funkiness and monumentality. two things that are almost almost mutually exclusive and architecture. that one sort of exemplified that. there was something kind of grand and funky about it at the same time -- i find it very likable, but not lovable. not as really was always lovable. but it was still 100 times better than the new one. >> you get the last word. >> lucky me. i was going to say i agree with you on everything, actually. >> not even my wife agrees with me on everything. >> i would love to have -- i'm all for downtown development. i lived in kansas city. i would love to have the stadium downtown. we have this one cultural part of our city that is maybe not like other towns because we are from the midwest. we are cattle and we are into barbecue, and you talk about football being a tailgating kind of sport. but here, tailgating is a really big part of baseball.

there was no alcohol served in any of the ballparks. and it was all about how baseball represents virtue and uprightness and every noble thing in the american character. but a lot of those things were actually code words for a certain kind of elitism. >> and keeping out the working class. >> and keeping out the riffraff. they would allow the riffraff in where they could make money from them. but in fact in many of the ballparks then, particularly the national league ones, there was a very rigid economic segregation. the bleachers were completely separate from the rest of the ballpark. you couldn't walk from a cheap seat into the grandstand area. you had a separate entrance, bathrooms and so forth. >> oh, really? >> yeah. it was a very rigid economic segregation. but some of that, you know, to be fair was kind of the weird way people did things in those days. the old metropolitan opera house in new york, which was built in 1883 around the time that baseball was getting bigger and bigger and a lot of the various stuff that we're talking a

but i didn't get to come inside the ballpark. so this is my first ballpark experience. so excited. >> the weather is perfect. it should cool off nicely right around game time. so i'm sad about a perfect seat in the press box and i'm ready for some great action. grant vicki and there's no tailgating, which obviously is a big part of the game day experience for so many, especially in oakland. but. >> just talking to people. you know, ticket takers, concession workers are these folks. we're able to work all last year. is there a a palpable sense of relief and excitement. there. >> oh, yeah. there's just such an incredible atmosphere. we arrived here around 3 o'clock. you know, the workers are already here. they're getting things in place. everyone smiling laughing excited, everyone we've talked to has just been so energetic and welcoming us to the ballparks. you can tell those people are relieved to be back in their jobs and just excited to welcome fans back some of the staff was here last year ones who were essential even without fans. and they just said it was just didn'

it was easy to carry around with that made it a really popular item to sell at the ballparks. so not only did german immigrants introduce the hot dog to baseball but waves of immigrants that came to this country adopted baseball as their own sport used it as a way to become americans. so in this next case, we're going to see more of the immigrant story in baseball. this case is about the promise of baseball about the immigrant experience. how baseball was a path to prosperity for a lot of immigrant groups. it was a way to find your american identity as a player or as a fan. the idea also that is if you're following a team whether you're a player or not if you're following a team if you are learning the rules you are actually taking steps in becoming an american because you're becoming part of the national sport and if you have an understanding of the national sport, how can you not be an american then? we start off actually here with this with what's considered the first baseball sports auto biography. this was by mike king kelly who was also kind of baseball's first celebrity

only about 9,000 fans will be allowed inside the ballpark. anyone 12 and older attending the game has to show proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative covid-19 test. fans will be seated in pods, socially distanced throughout the ballpark. and when it comes to food, fans will have to use an app or qr code to place their orders. then, they'll go pick up their food so there will be no waiting in long lines and no walk-up orders. fans have to eat and drink in their seats. now, you can bring your own food into the ballpark, and of course there are signs everywhere reminding fans to wear your mask at all times, except, of course, when you're eating. all right, so, the excitement inside here, there's excitement outside because the crowd is starting to build. fans will be allowed inside the ballpark in about a half an hour. first pitch at 1:35. reporting live from oracle park, anthony flores, nbc bay area. marcus, back to you. >> it's brewing there. we talked about all the excitement inside and you can see right here from nbc bay area sky ranger

i love the smell of the ballpark.and just to show you james and ari, how things are different even for reporters. previous years. i'm inside and i can see the mowing the lawn. yeah. seen that before. daario right this year were all outside here of this is close as we are allowed to be inside the ballpark. but. well, i i it's even stricter for the giants because. >> you it's not that you can't get in and watch them. you the law there. you have to actually have the show. you're fully-vaccinated. even if you're covering it, you can't go into the ballpark. english are fully vaccinated or you show a covid test is negative. so they're being really struck out are doing that or that. i'm all for that. i'm off with that. would you like to be the guy that brought down major league baseball you know that that down, you know. >> that's right. thank you. we'll 6.41 is the time we have lots to talk >> with people getting back outside. we talk about the opening of roller coasters at parks. we have baseball with fans in stands now, w

they were only allowed to have and 22% of their ballpark capacity. they don't know when that will change. that is why they have only sold tickets to april games. they are waiting to see what the health department says about may but they say this is the first major event in san francisco since the shutdownthen a lot of people are going to be watching to see how this goes. reporting live in san francisco, amy, abc 7 news. >>> now to the latest on covid- 19 in california. the state reported more than 2000 covid-19 cases on thursday and there were 129 deaths. the states seven-day positivity rate is just under 2% of these figures have held steady in the past week. the cdc is reassuring the public that johnson & johnson vaccines are safe but as we have been warning you, get ready for a big drop in the number of vaccines we will get from that company next week. elizabeth reports it comes as we see a rise in hospitalizations across the lot of the country. >> this morning with the nations covid death toll now surpassing 560,000, health officials are cautionin

look, let's talk about the new ballpark proposal at howard terminal. there are already concerns before about businesses and community groups that were opposed. now we are talking about, you know, maybe i'm going from privately financing the whole thing to saying, we need public money, where do you stand on this? >> let me be clear about what their proposal actually is. they are financing privately, the construction of their own ballpark. we know for that ballpark to successful, and really for our whole city to be successful, we have a lot of infrastructure improvements that we have to make. some necessary for the ballpark, others that are just going to be desirable for us to move to a much more pedestrian friendly city, a city where you can bike more safely, and the connection between downtown and those bart stations, with our beautiful waterfront, could definitely use some improvement. they are proposing the use of a tool called the infrastructure financing district. it is pretty similar to how redevelopment used to work. and it is taking what we woul

movement around the ballpark will be more limited. in terms of ordering food and beverage that will happen through the mobile app. >> tickets go on sale tomorrow. season-ticket holders have the first dibs. april 5 everyone else will be able to get a ticket. for now ticket sales are limited to games in april only. >>> nurses at good samaritan hospital claim some departments are way understaffed many protest outside the hospital in san jose today calling for safe staffing. nurses say they are rushing to take care of patients especially in this labor units and neonatal intensive care units. some nurses don't have time to take a meal. >> the community is recognized with the staffing problem that we're having now it is compromising the integrity of the hospital. what we would like to do is fix our staffing so we have appropriate staffing in our unit. >> nurses say they want to work with the hospital and provide guidance about have to staff units and response, they call the labor union statements misleading. they remain appropriately staffe

she is one that gets to watch inside the ballpark. >> i am fully vaccinated and i hope everybody will do that to get back to some sort of normal. maybe get rid of these a little bit, and do a few things. >> reporter: the a's are the first professional sports teams in the area to welcome fans back to games in person. in addition to tickets, they will also have to have proof that they are either fully vaccinated or have a negative covid-19 has in last three days. >> our messages that we need to be flexible, we have been through a lot as a community. i think we are all dying to get back at the ballpark. >> reporter: fans sitting requires a reasonable, given that the pandemic is not fully over just yet. >> 600,000 americans have died because of this. this terrible virus. the fact is, some of us are inconvenienced, it is a small price to pay for everyone's safety. >> reporter: the excitement of opening date coupled with the return offense, was a boost for nearby businesses like momo's which have struggled during the pandemic and lockdown >> the games don't only bring people, they bring exc

cool and breezy day at the ballpark there. definitely bring that jacket. extended forecast, looking at temperatures on the rise for saturday and sunday, more sunshine, and we are going to stay this way as we look to next week. mild, breezy with an onshore wind flow, and quiet, dry conditions into next week. >>> 5:20, still ahead, you won't need to pack a lunch before you head out the door. letting you snag dozens of delicious of food while also supporting local businesses. >>> coming up later, a former criminal defense and a civil rights attorney discusses the derek chauvin trial. >>> the cdc's new guidelines for travel if you have been vaccinated. >>> an exclusive first listen you never before heard music from prince. will be right back. >>> let's see what is brewing outside, brought to you by watch cbs in bay area with the kpix 5 news app. >>> 5:24, taking a live look outside. this is the view looking at the salesforce tower this morning. it is friday, you can see the low clouds hanging around there. the weekend just a waste away. there will be no shorta

>> yes, indeed. >> but last season the pandemic left jimmy no ballpark to supervisor only the health> how much of your time at home >> 99.9%. >> you seem like a social man to me. >> yeah, i am. the virus is no joke nobody come visit me at all. i didn't leave my house for a whole year. >> nobody visited you? >> don't come here because you're not coming in >> reporter: we get to the ballpark on this tuesday afternoon and spot jimmy down the road, a hug within seconds his first day back on the job. it was opening day for the washington nationals baseball team but also what could be called reopening day for jimmy and hundreds of other game day employees. >> have you got your vaccine >> yes three weeks ago. johnson & johnson, i'm ready to get back with the fans. >> that's amazing. >> because we've got the greatest fans in baseball. >> reporter: it doesn't take jimmy longto run into friends he hasn't seen in a year and a half >> this man is a legend. i'll tell you what. >> reporter: he's known national's employee scott fear for nearly 40 years. >> to know him is to love him. >> when is the

they will have hand sanitizing stations throughout the ballpark.re doing cashless not just at the concession stands but also in the parking lots. and speaking of concession stands, they will only have just a handful of them because they don't want people moving around too much. so you will do app. they why the bring the food to you or you go to certain locations at the ballpark and pick up your food. so they are trying this. they said that nothing istten in stone this year is written in pencil. so it's a very fluid situation in fact, we got a chance to track down and infectious disease expert. here's what he had to say about being smart and being fluid. they haven't been any huge outbreaks associated with outdoor events like this i i just worry about transmission events. if people go out of control. but again, it can be. >> one of the safest activities we have. if we practice what we know we have to do. >> and james and darya. they're not requiring fans to be vaccinated before going into the ballpark. but they're begging you just be smart if you fe

the giants ballpark. because right the first time in a year. you can actually go inside and watch and hear the roar of the crowd which is something the players have been missing for quite while now. they'll be excited to have you back in the stands. but even if you have a ticket, you can't just walk covid folks. and there are new rules. kron four's will tran is live at oracle with the details. good morning. we'll looking more like a baseball player who's on that jersey yeah, yeah. back batting cleanup will. >> willie far as the san francisco giants. no, no. buster we'll be back. he took the last season. also, he will be back to the boys. are back in town and the fans are back in town, so to speak. they will be allowed inside the ballpark for the first time in about 18 months in about 4 and a half hours from now. here's what you need to know. you will be socially distance. you will be required to wear your mask. in fact, the giants they gave out a video just so you can see for yourself how it's done. this is april 6th in. took their employees th

we draw a lot from our fans that are ballpark. it also lends toe. maybe there's some normalcy on the horizon. you know, playing baseball we know fans is there's no baseball. it's so born. oh the last guy speaking, there was elvis on dress, the new shortstop that the aids acquired from the texas rangers with marcus mnangagwa gone, and i've got to say if you get a chance to listen to him this year, hey, is an exciting veteran player got a lot of personality and he'll be one of the guys that were looking forward to hearing from on a regular basis this year, guys, not a shortened season. but a regular season that starts tonight and we could see them in person. can't we? joseph joke? what's going on with the mass vaccination site that's in the parking lot of the coliseum. will fans be able to navigate through all of that? yeah pardon? pardon the finger in the year there, but i had to hear you guys. it's like clockwork. the minute you're getting ready to go alive, somebody down on the field says crank up the music. so they did that, of course to us again

nbc bay area's pete suratos joins us outside the ballpark. it was exciting because the giants beat the rockies, 3-1. >> reporter: exactly. nothing like an opening day win. with the protocol, not as active of a celebration. here where folks are familiar with the bars across from oracle park, they are having a post-game celebration with protocols if place. it was a surreal moment for fans heading into oracle park after a year not being inside of it. opening day is taking on a new meaning. >> yes, let's go, giants! >> reporter: the energy felt like old times around san francisco's oracle park today. nearby bars welcoming customers. >> a beautiful day to have a baseball game. opening day, go giants! >> reporter: to street vendors cooking up food along king street, the sight of giants' fans heading into the ballpark to enjoy opening day. felt, well, normal. or almost normal. >> welcome. if you have your vaccination card or testing card, come right back here. >> reporter: as cities slowly remove restrictions due to the pandemic, the sporting experi

that's because all concessions must be purchased on the mbl ballpark app. the giants say some options will be absent this year but fans can expect the signature garlic fries and sausages to be there. pick up locations will be in the seating zone and you can only eat at your ticketed seat. outside food is allowed but for alcohol. >>> sure felt like spring this week. >> yeah. the winds have been an issue. still gusty at the shoreline. we take a live look outside. little bit of patchy fog out there. otherwise we will see a warmer day today. the trend, will it last through the weekend and how warm? the seven day forecast is coming up. >>> also ahead back to the theater. we will go inside the historic or ind a theater as they prepare for live events. >>> and a north bay mayor is facing sexual assault allegations. you will hear from an alleged majestic mountains... scenic coastal highways... fertile farmlands... there's lots to love about california. so put off those chores and use less energy from 4 to 9 pm when less clean energy is available. because that's pow

coming up, the a's are releasing their plans for new ballpark. what that stadium could mean for people who live in the east bay. >> plus the disturbing findings after a close examination of the way one major bay area city is handling its homeless >> a new date. the oakland a's dream of a baseball stadium on the edge of the oakland. estuary is moving forward today. the team released its plan spelling out what the privately funded billion dollar project could mean for the team. the city and east bay residents kron four's terisa stasio talked with the a's president dave kaval. >> we really need to haul. it's got a tool. it's at the end of its useful. like the lights went out the other night. was kind of embarrassing. that's oakland athletics. president dave campbell. >> on the team's quest to move out of the coliseum into a brand new waterfront ballpark on friday. the latest inning in this very long game. the team is trying to win. they released their financial offer to the city. batting out promises such as the team will privately finance a state o

it connects the transit center to the ballpark and the waterfront. it is an important street for every single mode of transportation, and so as a result of that, we've added daylighting for pedestrians at intersections. we've added protected crosswalks, and we've added protective bikeways because we know while bike lanes are good, in order to make biking attractive to normal san franciscans, they need to be physically protected from traffic. we're not just stopping at second street. during covid, we have been working to create a grid of safer walkways and protected bikeways throughout south of market. not just here but fifth, eight, seven, brandon, embarcadero, in order to make this corridor from a truck dominated thoroughfare to one of the most walkable areas in san francisco. we're also very excited that our success here has garnered us a significant state award to make our experiments to folsom street available to everyone. >> good morning, everyone. i am so happy to be here today with you all to celebrate a project long in the works. 11 years ago

it connects the transit center to the ballpark and the waterfront. it is an important street for every single mode of transportation, and so as a result of that, we've adde daylighting for pedestrians at intersections. we've added protected crosswalks, and we've added protective bikeways because we know while bike lanes are good, in order to make biking attractive to normal san franciscans, they need to be physically protected from traffic. we're not just stopping at second street. during covid, we have been working to create a grid of safer walkways and protected bikeways throughout south of market. not just here but fifth, eight, seven, brandon, embarcadero, in order to make this corridor from a truck dominated thoroughfare to one of the most walkable areas in san francisco. we're also very excited that our success here has garnered us a significant state award to make our experiments to folsom street available to everyone. >> good morning, everyone. i am so happy to be here today with you all to celebrate a project long in the works. 11 years ago,

terry mcsweeney out at the ballpark today. the giants' home opener friday afternoon. we'll have team coverage throughout the day from oracle park. we are your official giants' station. back in a moment. want to save hundreds on your wireless bill? with xfinity mobile, you can. how about saving hundreds on the new samsung galaxy s21 ultra 5g? you can do that too. all on the most reliable network? sure thing! and with fast, nationwide 5g included - at no extra cost? we've got you covered. so join the carrier rated #1 in customer satisfaction... ...and learn how much you can save at xfinitymobile.com/mysavings. i'm not sure if there's anything i can say to my family members to convince them to take the covid-19 vaccine. i'm not even sure if i'm convinced. hi darius, i think that people respond more to what we do than what we say. so after looking at all the data and the science about these vaccines, i got the vaccine. and i made sure my mom and dad got the vaccine. because these vaccines are safe. ♪ ♪ this guy here is busy working on our state's recovery. you see he live

real humans, fans allowed back in the ballpark. that includes the a's and the giants. of course there are new covid related rules. face masks are required. tailgaing in longer allowed and at a limited capacity. our sky ranger overhead this afternoon. look at the field looking gorgeous. fresh logos painted on the field itself. let's bring in melissa colorado at the coliseum. you got the story assignment of the day. happy new year as they like to say. >> reporter: i'm loving it, baby. baseball is back. no more of those fan cut-outs. no more of that fake fan cheering. get that noise out of here. we're getting the real deal today. so you are probably wondering. how is social distancing going to work here at the coliseum. so these yellow stickers you see right here, that is where fans are going to sit. this is a pod of two people. they're social distancing between them and other fans. that's where the zip ties come in. this is where people cannot sit. that will allow appropriate social distancing between fans here and fans right over there. so it is looking a little empty h

if you're, you know, yelling next to me will at the ballpark. i want you to not have covid itself. >> a grade. all right. thanks a lot. have fun at the game is as close as he's getting here to get to go now. what i love about golf. >> is even the pros can be great one minute and shake it. the next both happened on the first day of the masters. tommy fleetwood made hole in one on number 16 now that is a par 3 and it's the most ace toll in the history of the masters at augusta of the total 32 holes in one. 23 have been on the 16th hole. rory mcilroy's data was at a whole. it is head. rory was having a horrible day. his shots were way off until one. when exactly where he was aiming problem is it was a little too perfect. >> your 7. did you a bigger target there. that's a in fairness. it was i was i was trying to turn it off perfect shot. it was that strip. >> but i i think he was okay. don't think he didn't like the way walked away pretty swiftly. so that was all right. >> they jolted. he would autograph a bag of frozen peas for his dad's. when goo

we're not asking for much we're saying, hey, we want to get a privately financed ballpark.want to get 40 or 50 million dollars in community benefits and the project actually generates a billion dollars in general fund to recess. stasio kron 4 news. >> new rules are coming to the nfl commissioner roger goodell announcing today that players will not need to be tested daily for coronavirus instead they'll be tested once a week. players also will not be required to quarantine after having, quote, high-risk close contact with an infected person. >> a lot of clouds rolling in tonight. no rain just yet. but it is on the way. we'll take a closer look at that storm may be the last storm of the season. coming up next. >> and on the field, the a's looking like one of the best teams in baseball center. they keep their streak going tonight. we have highlights they're also big warriors game. first one with fans just ended and let's just stephanie feliz didn >> and now kron 4 sports. >> it's a big night for dubnation the first night since march 10th of last year. the fans have been allowe

lot of changes at the ballpark to try to keep everybody safe from force kylen mills. >> live tonight, the coliseum with everything we need to know. kyla baseball. such a a sensory experience, right. you smell the hot dogs, the spilled beer. you hear the crack of the bat. what is it like tonight knowing that those seats are going to be not totally failed, but it will be a whole new experience. >> hey, grant vicki just such an incredible atmosphere here tonight. the weather couldn't be more beautiful. you can start to smell that are roma of some of the concession. the hot dogs being cooked up waiting for fans to just come through the gate to gate actually open literally. right this very minute so fans should be filing in here and filling up some of the scenes here at the coliseum any minute now. and it's just such an exciting night this has been a long time coming. also a perfect match up for opening day. the a's taking on the houston astro's or sign editor bonnie hitch. a huge a's fan told me that there was a big line of cars trying to get into the parking lot here today. so, you know,

this is our section on at the ballpark. this is an original fire insurance map. this shows d.c.'iginal baseball stadium was in the heart of the urban community. you can see it's next to a number of businesses and residences. we have a college of dentistry, a hospital, and a lot of row houses here. and a lot of fans would often gather late in the day to sit on the roofs and watch a free game of baseball, but what these fire insurance maps do and we have them for a number of cities here in the library is show these stadiums are right in the midst of their community, they are not out in some pasture as we think about that with early baseball, and this map was updated in the early 20th century. another thing we're talking about here are the customs tamdz -- and rituals fans experience. here we have a hand written scorecard in the 1936 world series with the yankees and the giants. the fans usually will often keep score in ways they don't with other sports, and everybody develops their own style based on a template that they learned. another ritual, of course, is singing "take me out t

it was that drastically shortened season and no fans inside the ballpark. they only had cardboard cut outs because they didn't want anybody getting covid-19 to the players this year. they will allow fans inside other than the texas rangers in texas is a whole different animal as far as what they believe and mask social distance. but as far as most of the ball parks out there. it's about 20% capacity of the fans. it depends. i mean, it's why we get into a better tier, they might even let more fans in. but the bottom line is it's around maybe 10,000 fans are so at the oakland coliseum when they start tonight and they will require you to do a lot of things before you answer. the first thing is try to use some common sense. if you feel sick, stay home, take a look at your screen. these are the other things that they want you to do. they want you to mask up anybody 2 years or older, you will be required to wear your mask. they will social distance. that's one of the reasons why they will allow the fans back because they need that space. they will have hand sanit

let's get back to how strict things are at the ballpark. james and area just a few moments ago i tracked down the giants spokeswoman. here's what she had to say about raising the bar on covid-19. >> we're asking people to be prepared to show either a negative covid test and they've received their results within 72 hours or proof of full vaccination and full vaccination is defined as if you had made that our eyes are 2 shots plus a 2 week waiting period after and if you had johnson and johnson, it would be 2 weeks after that a vaccine. and that's the only california team doing it. he said new york, they're doing it already. >> yeah. and if you think about it, i mean, it makes a lot of sense. new york san francisco were much more densely community. >> a couple of other things that you need to know if you have not been vaccinated yet. you have to have a negative covid-19 test. 3 days before entering the ballpark and you have to show proof of that as well. if you are 12 years and older. by the way, not just little kids like 6. you have to be 12

enjoy your afternoon at the ballpark. >> wait until chris puts it recycling. >>> the giants open the season on the road tonight in seattle. fans planning to had to next week's home opener at oracle park will face some tough restrictions. wayne freeman has a close look at the new rules for going to the game.>>> as the banner behind you says welcome home. getting inside may not be so easy. >> thank you so much for being here. happening happy opening day. >> in the days of covid has major league teams throughout first balls across the country they are also rolling out protocols for fans. at oracle park that means severe guidelines for what will be the city's largest public events of the pandemic. no entry through this gate without proof of a vaccination are proof of a negative test. >> what mlb does is they say you need to comply with your local -- you state and local health officers. >> while still in the orange tier for this homestand the high-end the giants will limit admittance to 8900 fans or 22% capacity. they will be sitting in pods ordering food remotely and staying in those pod

you can see the ballpark there on the bay. this cloudy wednesday morning in the city. >>> new, this morning, a san francisco based retail giant is taking fashion advice from a 7- year-old. >> this after she wrote a letter to the company demanding real pockets in kid's jeans. it was part of a class assignment. she had to write a letter so she wrote old navy expressing her annoyance that the front pockets on kid's jeans were fake. she wrote saying all she wants to do is put her lands in her pockets. old navy wrote back thanking her for the idea saying that the old navy kid's product team appreciates your information. it's great feedback for us as we develop new products. they sent her four pairs of jeans and jean shorts with real pockets. >> real pockets. >> real pockets. >> they are extremely useful. >> you need them. god bless the parents, god only knows what they will find in those pockets after a long day as they do the laundry. >> right and they have a mini lawyer on their hands. this girl is making things happen. >> she is

are you at the ballpark? >> i'm here, i'm seeing fans strolling in, fantastic. >> what was the biggest challenge to get the season started, to get it going tonight? >> adhering to all protocols, working with the state and local authorities so we could have a safe reopening. coming up with a pod system, ensuring that we did the masking. all the things that are new and we had to work together with all the key parties to make it happen. >> we know across the bay the giants are asking for covid tests and documentation, hoops to get through. you guys are not doing that. is that just because alameda county is allowing looser restrictions? >> we work very closely with the state and adhere to their guidelines. i think alameda county has the same guidelines, and we're adhering to those, which don't include testing for fans or vaccination proof. so we have socially distanced, we have pods, masking. we feel that's a good setup, a safe setup to ensure the experience is good for everyone here. >> i'd like to see you in pe

. >>> you are going to see a lot more people than usual at the ballpark today, keep that in mind if you are headed towards the bridge. there is a trouble spot, first reported as a crash, but a broken down vehicle near the high-rise, not causing a lot of brake lights, but if you are making that trek, know that it is there. >>> on the road to recovery this morning, taking a live look at oracle park where the giants will be welcoming fans back into the stadium for the first time in more than a year. the home opener happening at 1:00 this afternoon. here we are, it is like we are returning normal. >> reporter: you know, it is a question that we have all had during the pandemic, and the year-long lockdown, are we going to get to do regular stuff like go to the movies or the ballpark. when was it going to be safe, when were they going to be allowed. giants fans gets their answer today. this afternoon, it is going to be the home opener for the giants, baseball is back in business. fans in the stands, that is an important distinction for them and us. it is not going to look exactly the same, yo

all 30 teams in action thursday at ballparks across the country.the colorado rockies opening up at 42.6% capacity. the texas rangers opening at 100%, with an option for distanced seating. while the new york yankees and mets are only allowing 20%, with fans required to have proof of vaccination, or a negative covid test. in boston, the red sox allowing only 12% of capacity. >> to start the season, about 4500 fans will be allowed into fenway park. some seats will be cordoned off with zip ties. everyone will be socially distanced with masks on all game. >> reporter: coming up at 7:00 a.m., we'll have everything you need to know, when you head back to the ballpark. with your gma first look, i'm will reeve, abc news, boston. >>> we're coming back with another full 90 minutes of news, including the part of the bay area, where adults are reportedly hesitant about getting the vaccine. >>> a san francisco school board member is taking legal action after some of her old tweets resurfaced. >>> also an amazing sight on the water. we're going to explain what is

previously, a couple days ago or thursday, you could only go really one way to the ballpark and that distance from the next seating group. now, with vaccinations climbing, and with the numbers here in san francisco and california extraordinarily good, vaccination sections will be offered, and we think that it will build and we'll have a huge amount of takers going into may when we have the big series and people can buy in advance. the big thing is, baseball is a community event. it's a communal thing. and now you can go with a group of 10, 12, 15 people, friends from the neighborhood, friends from work, big families can go and sit together. >> so the headline from local media is that fans feel safer. do you feel safer? >> right. and that's really important. i mean, you know, there was a fair amount of feeling early on as we got into the baseball season and we were playing a full season, which, you know, we're really excited about, and it really became the first communal event, i think, in this country where everybody was able to come together in ways that they have before and kind of

not just at ballpark. remember this from last night?d you this, giants fan bringing her therapy bunny to the ballpark, really stealing the show. that's alex the rabbit. we caught up with alex in the city. four months old, potty trained and big hit with just about everybody. his owner, kai cato, used to have restaurant in mission district. >> you know, dog is good, but also a little bit drained, so i needed something a little bit easio of. why not bunny? >> have a >> steve: from studio 6b in rockefeller center in the heart of new york city, it's "the tonight show starring jimmy fallon."

and they welcome fans back to the ballpark. it was a big day. >> and they got a big win for sports reporter kate rooney was at the ballpark for today's home opener. >> it wasn't full house at oracle park today that the house was full of energy from the moment the gates opened at the ballpark. you could feel a palpable excitement from fans who had gun to set foot in the stadium for over a year and that energy really translated on the field starting pitcher johnny cueto pitched an absolute gem 8, 2, thirds innings 4 runs a hit and 7 strikeouts and the crowd went wild with a standing ovation when he was eventually pulled late in the 9th. but. offense to and from a lot of the old guard buster posey brandon belt. brandon crawford all had hits and manager gabe kepler said today's 3 to one win was full of moments he won't soon forget. >> i think obviously i remember john on his performance. let us you know how how well the field his position on post. he how resilient remember across obviously cross be good. remember expansion about th

the team wants to build a ballpark at the howard terminal with 35,000 seats. the plan also includes up to 3,000 housing units and retail space. today, the oakland united coalition will air its concerns aday ahead of a planning commission hearing on the project. >>> and marin county could be hit with water restrictions. the water district would be the first big bay area water agency to make such a move. if passed, people would only be allowed to water their lawn one day a week. washing cars, refilling swimming pools would be limits. fines could be up to $250 with enforcement starting a check at weather with meteorologist mary lee and we need the rain. >> desperately sew. we are in a drought across the bay area. as we look to the end of the week, there is a chance to see a few showers, we'll take what we can get. we are about 30% of average for our water year of what we should be seeing this time. here is a live look at san francisco. the transamerica pyramid across the bay. blue skies. temperatures in the 50s and the 60s at this hour. i'm tracking on shore flow

the ballpark today with more on what you can expect. if you have a ticket. >> and you're heading out there. hey, well. >> let's face it, james and area. the fact that they're here already that's a grand slam even before they do the first pitch at one 35 the colorado rockies. let me step out and show you exactly what's going on. so you can see they're setting up the metal detectors. i'd never thought i'd be so happy to see metal detectors. but finally after 18 months, they're setting up. also the plexiglass. and you can see the signs right in front as well. updated bag policy. so the bags a little bit smaller. this year. also fans safe a face covering required. wash your hands. keep your distance covid-19 vicious to spend that number 19 forever. as far as i'm concerned after this is alright. never want to see the number 19 again. let me show you some video of what you can expect. the giants basically sent out a training video for all of us. they took their employees through the gates on april 6. just to show people exactly how it's done.

yeah, it kind of felt like pretty lively atmosphere, and it felt like the ballpark was relatively full, especially there at the end, when everybody wanted to see johnny finish that game. well, i echo what gabe kapler said. there may have only been 7000 people here a little more than that, but it they got very excited about the runs about johnny cueto and we know that we're back here at the ballpark. they said four or five different names, but, uh, you know, was originally pacbell park and through the years a tnt now oracle, we know that a baseball game is over here because i know if you can hear them, but they are circling. the seagulls are back. they know that when there are fans in the stands. there are peanuts and all kinds of things left behind and they can't wait for us to get out of here. we're under the overhang, which is the safe place to be, but they're waiting for us to vacate so they could come in here and scam. we could see him. all right behind you started to look for setting all that food that was left behind by the fans that were in oracle park today. joe fonzi reporting

in addition to the $1 billion cost for the ballpark itself.he project also includes 15,000,001 10.5 million square feet rather of office. space 3000 housing units and 270,000 square feet of retail space in jacqueline and square. i spoke with these president dave cavil earlier today about this privately financed approach. act. this is really the final approval that we need from all the key approval parties. we've already had the port bow. we've already had the state, so it's a really critical step in moving forward with the project. if the project is approved and built, it is expected to pull in 955 million into the city's general fund and generate 450 million in community benefits. oakland mayor libby schaaf says she wants to make sure the deal does not leave oakland's taxpayers on the hook, a spokesperson for her office released this statement today regarding the proposal reading in part, quote the city is willing to bring to bear its resource is to help make this vision of reality. however today's proposal from the a's appears to request pub

i'm allowed to be inside a run around the ballpark until somebody tackles me. not this case because they don't want my possible covid have been vaccinated. but you get the idea they want to make sure that the coliseum is safe for the players. you want to be that person that takes down major league baseball. we are hours away from the season opener for the oakland a's. all 30 teams will take the mound baseball diamond doesn't matter where you are. there will be a game to watch. yes, tonight the a's will be taking on the houston astro's 162 game season last year was just 60 games and you might recall you had to watch it at home. nobody in person. maybe you were there. but in cardboard form because that's as close as fans got this year. they're allowing people inside at limited capacity around 20% or so at most ballparks. and if the tears move to a better tier. they might allow people more people inside. but here's what you need to know if you're going tonight. so take a look at your screen. these are the covid-19 guidelines. if you're older than 2 years old. mask

no more cardboard cutouts of oracle park at 10 30 have fans were welcome back to the ballpark to chair around the giants. disturbing find at the university of san francisco. how school officials took action against the student who hung a noose if you smell gas, you're too close. leave the structure, call 911, keep people away, and call pg&e right after so we can both respond out and keep the public safe. one of the most important things you can do is to make sure you call 811 before you dig. calling 811 to get your lines marked: it's free, it's easy, we come out and mark your lines, we provide you the information so you will dig safely. now, it is just the youngest students that are going to be returning to campuses, but his ktvu is christien kafton tells us officials do expect all students to return to schools by mid august. bryant elementary school in san francisco's mission district is just about ready to welcome back students. the classrooms may look a little different with more room between desks and clear partitions. but the district says it's ready to welcome back there. first g

i'm allowed to be inside a run around the ballpark until somebody tackles me. not this case because they don't want my possible covid have been vaccinated. but you get the idea they want to make sure that the coliseum is safe for the players. you know, want to be that person that takes down major league baseball. we are hours away from the season opener for the oakland a's. all 30 teams will take the mound baseball diamond doesn't matter where you are. there will be a game to watch. yes, tonight the a's will be taking on the houston astro's 162 game season last year was just 60 games and you might recall you had to watch it at home. nobody in person. maybe you are there. but in cardboard form because that's as close as fans got this year. they're allowing people inside at limited capacity around 20% or so at most ballparks. and if the tears move to a better tier. they might allow people more people inside. but here's what you need to know if you're going tonight. so take a look at your screen. these are the covid-19 guidelines. if you're older than 2 years old.

all concessions must be purchased on the mlb ballpark app. the giants say some food and beer options will be absent this year but fans can expect the signature garlic fries and the sausages will be there. pick up location also be in your seating zone and you can only eat at your ticketed seat. outside food is allowed but for alcohol. >>> that sounds so fun to go back to a game and feels good that we are finally getting back in the swing of things. >> those garlic fries. i would go just for that. good morning. we are in the 50's now and sfo reporting some gusty winds. we will not get rid of that totally but it'll be warmer today. 70's inland and lighter winds arounded bay. the forecast is coming up. >>> and back to the theater. we will take you inside the his or or ind a theater. >>> and a mayor is facing sexu majestic mountains... scenic coastal highways... fertile farmlands... there's lots to love about california. so put off those chores and use less energy from 4 to 9 pm when less clean energy is available. because that's power down time.

if your favorite thing about a ballpark is the hotdogs, you will love this.ng site bonus finder is looking to hire an mlb professional food tester. whoever gets the gig will get paid $500 to eat hotdogs different stadiums. at the end they will determine which stadia has the best frankfurter. i'm not sure if there's anything i can say to my family members to convince them to take the covid-19 vaccine. i'm not evenen sure if i'm m convinced.d. hihi darius, i i think thaht peopople respondnd more toto what we d do than whahat w. so aftfter lookingng at all thta and ththe science e about thee vaccccines, i gogot the vaccc. and i madede sure my m mom andd got the e vaccine. because ththese vaccinines are . ♪ ♪ great party carly you must of blown your budget. not exactly. you have great wine name brand snacks tons of meat, and where did you get this imported cheese? hello? grocery outlet bargain market. oh, more bubbles? more bubbles for less benjamins our amazing 20% off wine sael is going on now until april 13th at your neighborhood grocery outlet >>> the late sh