Development permits have been filed for improvements to Raimondi Field at 1689 20th Street in West Oakland, Alameda County. The redesign will adjust an existing baseball field to meet the Pioneer Baseball League regulations for the newly formed Oakland Ballers team. The City of Oakland owns the field.
The application comes just a day after the A’s shared renderings for their potential new stadium in Las Vegas, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. BIG was the same firm responsible for drafting the now-inactive plans to redevelop Howard Terminal. Despite headwinds from Oakland and Las Vegas, the Athletics team owner, John Fisher, has remained committed to leaving the Coliseum. The Oakland Ballers were formed by Paul Freedman and Bryan Carmel last November as a direct response to Oakland losing its final major league baseball team.
Recently-proposed Athletic’s Stadium in Las Vegas, rendering by Negativ with design by Bjarke Ingels Group
While the permit was just field, the team had announced their decision to play at the West Oakland field in mid-February. Bryan Carmel, co-founder of the Oakland Ballers, said at the time, “we are honored to be part of the next chapter of baseball at Raimondi Park and eagerly anticipate collaborating with the City and local residents to showcase the potential of our city.”
A myriad of field improvements and adjustments will be made to meet league regulations and to enhance the playing experience. The most significant individual change will be upgrades to the scoreboard. The new installation will feature a “state-of-the-art video board.” The team has shared their hope that the new amenities and video board can be used to “serve various community events, including movie nights and more.”
Raimondi Field existing condition, image by Google Satellite
The city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission permitted the Ballers to play 48 games at the Raimondi Park. The field will be fully open for public use on all non-game days. The team announced a $1.6 million private fund will help complete the work, allowing the inaugural first game to start June 4th of this year.
The Oakland Ballers is the second-newest team to join the 1939-founded Pioneer League. The newest team, announced earlier this year, is the Yolo High Wheelers based in Davis, California. The oldest teams in the league come from Montana and Idaho, with later teams added in Utah and Colorado.
The public park includes a baseball field, a football field that can be used for soccer games, and a turf grass lawn. The site is close to several proposed or rising residential projects. The five-story complex at 2121 Wood Street is rising, led by Holliday Development. West of the park and next to the former 16th Street Train Station, City Ventures has proposed a 90-unit townhome development. On the park’s south edge, Tri Pointe Homes recently finished another townhome complex.
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Go B’s!
Will there be security 24/7? My business in Oakland for 40 years on wood street very close to Ramondi
and a very unsafe place to be especially at night and sure you are aware . Born and raised in Oakland and and long term baseball fan but to park and attend Baller night game would be difficult . Not safe even during the day and a shame … city lack of maintenance to the new ballpark there let field condition go down the tubes . Was nice when it opened . Best of luck !
Terry, I agree with the last part of your comment. The city gets a new facility but then they don’t maintain it.