Programming Alert: Let the Festivities Continue!

What do you mean it's not 2010 anymore?

The Giants opened up the 2011 season in Los Angeles this year, and the World Series Champions brought in 56,000 people to Chavez Ravine. The next day, attendance dropped over 11,000 to 44,834.

Then they traveled to San Diego, where they were the guests to the Padres and 43,146 of their fans at the home opener at Petco Park. On Thursday, attendance at Petco was cut almost in half, to 24,368, a healthy portion of which were Giants fans.

With the Giants opening up their park for the first meaningful games since the World Series today against the St. Louis Cardinals, that party that started in November will just keep on going. There will be no letdown at the gates of AT&T Park from Friday to Saturday, or even to Sunday, because every seat at AT&T Park is sold out.

That's right, every seat. So if you don't have tickets, you'd better be watching it somewhere.

And if you're watching the pageantry of this weekend somewhere, then you're probably watching Comcast SportsNet, who will be covering all of the pregame festivities that most of us fans just aren't able to get out to the yard to see in person.

The Flag Raising Ceremony? That's happening today, with coverage starting at 12pm with Giants Pregame Live (gametime at 12:45). You can even chat about it with Ray Ratto and Mychael Urban during the game.

The World Series Championship Ring Ceremony? That's on Saturday at 5:30, following a special edition of Inside the Clubhouse: Defending the Title (gametime at 6:00).

The presentation of Buster Posey's Rookie of the Year award? You guessed it, Sunday. That presentation will also be featured during Giants Pregame Live at 12:30 (gametime at 1:00).

Oh yeah, and the Cardinals are in town playing baseball, too. This is a big series for the Giants. My hope is that they got all this nervousness out of their system playing in front of hostile crowds. AT&T Park has always provided a haven of sorts. The Giants had a .605 winning percentage at home last year, and your home park is always a good one for getting back on track.

All games will be followed immediately by Giants Postgame Live, and at some point during the night by SportsNet Central.

If you're one of those poor souls who just can't afford to sell enough organs to buy tickets today, don't be discouraged. Through the wonders of technology, all your wildest dreams will come true.*


*Only valid if your wildest dreams include watching Brandon Belt and Miguel Tejada awkwardly stand by while the REAL Giants  get their rings.