On Thursday, July 9, the Oakland Roots officially announced that 2026 will be the club’s final season playing at the Oakland Coliseum. “The club is hard at work securing a venue for 2027 and beyond, and looks forward to celebrating its final season at the historic Oakland venue,” a press release stated.
Oakland Roots and Soul SC President Lindsay Barenz said the Coliseum “is a landmark of Oakland and the East Bay, and it has been an honor to be part of its legacy.” She noted, however, that the club has “long stated that controlling our own venue is paramount to the long-term success of the club and soccer here in Oakland. While we have loved our time at the Coliseum over these two seasons, it is not a viable ongoing option for us as the relationship is currently structured.”
The search for a permanent stadium remains a top priority and an ongoing effort, the press release stated, stressing that the importance of “a stable, permanent home—both in the near term and for decades to come—that the Club controls cannot be overstated.”
“Limitations around event control, matchday flexibility, the fan experience, and operating costs have made it clear that the Coliseum cannot serve as our long-term home,” the announcement stated, noting that new short-term options the club is considering include a pop-up venue in the Coliseum parking lot and transforming its recently acquired training facility in Alameda into a temporary matchday venue. “In partnership with Redco, the Club gained control of the facility last year, giving Oakland Roots and Soul a permanent home for day-to-day operations, training, and culture building,” the announcement noted.
Since entering into a long-term lease at the training facility, the club oversees all venue operations and logistics, creating the potential for an interim gameday venue they club would fully control. “This process will involve engagement with the local community as we explore the feasibility of hosting our home matches in the short term at the property located at 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway in Alameda,” the announcement stated.
A pop-up venue in the Coliseum parking lot could possibly give the club more control over operations, providing a more intimate experience, plus greater ability to dictate pricing and services for fans.
For the long term, the club will continue to pursue its interest in building a permanent home at the Howard Terminal site, first announced more than a year ago. Plans and meetings are now underway to secure an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with the Port of Oakland for the site. And an ongoing dialogue with the African American Sports and Entertainment Group continues to explore the long-term potential of building a permanent soccer stadium at the Coliseum site.
