USL Championship soccer club Oakland Roots has shared a proposal to develop a permanent home at the Howard Terminal site, furthering connections to now departed MLB franchise the Athletics.
The Roots, along with women’s team the Soul, in August announced plans to play the 2025 season at the Oakland Coliseum, marking its return to the city for the first time since 2022. The A’s have now played out their final season at the Coliseum and are set to head to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento for the 2025-2027 campaigns prior to the move to a new ballpark in Las Vegas in 2028.
The A’s opted for relocation after their efforts to develop a new stadium at Howard Terminal collapsed last year. The team was planning a privately financed 35,000-seat ballpark at Howard Terminal which would have seen the substantial regeneration of the surrounding area as part of a wider $12bn (£9.56bn/€11.53bn) scheme.
The Roots have now confirmed they submitted a proposal to the Port Authority, ahead of a December 18 deadline, that outlines a vision for a permanent soccer stadium at this location.
“This moment demonstrates our commitment to building a stadium in Oakland,” said club president Lindsay Barenz. “We believe that our success at the Oakland Coliseum in 2025 will showcase why this club deserves a world-class stadium to call home, one that proudly represents our city to the world.”
A multi-phase approach would commence with the construction of a modular stadium that would be operational in a relatively short timeframe, with a 15,000 fan capacity, the same as the club’s general capacity at the Coliseum.
The phase one structure would have modular elements, similar to a club proposal for the Malibu site at the Coliseum. As the club continues to grow, phase two would involve developing a more substantial structure with a capacity for up to 25,000 fans, providing a long-term home for the club.
Given the importance of a permanent game day venue, the club confirmed it is also pursuing other sites, including the Coliseum. “We are working diligently on our future stadium plans,” said chief real estate officer Lydia Tan.
“When the opportunity to express our interest and intentions at Howard Terminal arose, we knew we had to be part of the conversation about the site’s future. This is not just about building a stadium, it is also about creating a lasting home that reflects our commitment to Oakland and our vision for growth.
“While we are keeping all options on the table for other locations in Oakland, Howard Terminal stands out as a unique and exciting opportunity that aligns with our long-term aspirations for the club.”
Additionally, discussions about remaining at the Coliseum as an interim home beyond 2025 are ongoing, with the club stating it is a “possibility we are very interested in pursuing”.
If the opportunity to remain playing at the Coliseum becomes a reality, this could supplant the club’s need to construct a 10,000-capacity interim stadium at the Malibu Lot that was intended to host both the Roots and Soul for five to 10 years, while working toward a permanent home.
The San Francisco Chronicle said the Roots’ bid for the Howard Terminal site was one of several lodged before Wednesday’s deadline, but the only sports-focused option. “We fully support the Oakland Roots and their plans for a permanent home,” said Oakland’s Interim Mayor, Nikki Fortunato Bas.
“We will do everything we can to assist in their plans at the Oakland Coliseum, the Malibu Lot or at Howard Terminal. The Roots and Soul are perfect examples of how sports teams can be good community partners, and we want to make sure they stay rooted here for decades to come.”
