I would suggest keeping it down then, until such a time that you can code in a way to take a "snapshot" of the AH and restore it when you bring it back up (obviously it's too late for this one). Assuming stuff happens (and it always does) would make for a handy fix to literally everyone's ills.
Because there are thousands of new players all patching various whatnots constantly draining their only slightly beta tested servers. Some hiccups in the first couple of months while literally everyone's games get on the same level as far as downloading new areas are to be expected. And also each time the devs tweak said…