Oakland Roots SC works to plant future at Coliseum, will play 2025 home games there

The Oakland Roots professional soccer team wants to continue playing at the Coliseum for the “short-term” following the 2025 season, according to team officials.

The club announced Wednesday it has abandoned plans to build a temporary stadium in the “Malibu Lot” near the Coliseum and instead will sign a one-year lease for the 17 home games scheduled for this year.

“We remain dedicated to building something sustainable and deeply rooted in Oakland, and we look forward to continuing this journey alongside our supporters and partners,” team president Lindsay Barenz said in a news release.

The team played the last two seasons at California State University East Bay in Hayward.

Eventually, it would like to elevate the women’s team Soul SC to professional status and also have them play at the Coliseum.

“Oakland Roots and Soul are committed to securing a permanent home in Oakland, and this decision allows us to focus our efforts on making that vision a reality,” Barenz said.

Coliseum’s future owner receptive

The Coliseum is in the process of being sold from the co-ownership of Alameda County and the city of Oakland to the African American Sports and Entertainment Group.

“As we work towards our shared objectives of a brighter future for East Oakland, we look forward to our continued cooperation and would be open to working with Oakland Roots for a longer stay at the Coliseum,” AASEG’s Ray Bobbitt said.

“Oakland Roots and Soul are committed to securing a permanent home in Oakland, and this decision allows us to focus our efforts on making that vision a reality.”

Lindsay Barenz, Oakland Roots SC team president

The Roots play a 34-game season that starts March 8 with an away match against Orange County SC. The first home game is March 22 against San Antonio FC.

The Coliseum is the former home of the Athletics, a Major League Baseball team, and the Raiders, a National Football League team.

The Raiders moved to Las Vegas in 2020 and the A’s played their last season in Oakland in 2024 with the intention of also moving to Las Vegas while playing in West Sacramento in the meantime.

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