Oakland soccer teams eye lot next to Coliseum for interim stadium

On the same day Oakland mourned the impending loss of the baseball A's, the Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club announced they had submitted a proposal for a 10-year lease of Malibu Lot adjacent to the Coliseum, home of the A's since 1966 and for many years the Raiders.

The A's intend to follow the Raiders to Las Vegas, agreeing to purchase 49 acres of land there with plans to build a ballpark.

In a statement, the two USL teams said the East Oakland location ticks off many of their requirements for an interim stadium, including:

• Adequate size to accommodate the stadium, fan experiences, and parking.
• Availability to host both our men’s and women’s teams.
• Accessible location to public transportation (BART).
• Potential for community impact.

In February, Roots president Lindsay Barenz and chief real estate officer Lydia Tan made a presentation to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority regarding the plans for a 10,000-seat stadium on the site with room to house team facilities and host block parties.

The Roots first played in NISA in 2019 before moving the USL Championship in 2021. The Soul will debut in the W League in 2023. 

The Roots have drawn large crowds at Laney College in downtown Oakland and attracted considerable community support, but they have dealt with ongoing turf issues that have forced to play elsewhere (Las Positas College in Livermore and Cal State East Bay in Hayward). The lease at Laney ends in 2024.