Development permits have been filed for a new stadium for two soccer clubs at 8000 South Coliseum Way in Coliseum, East Oakland. The project would replace a surplus parking lot within the Coliseum campus and allow the two teams to start playing in the 2025 season. The permits were filed the same day the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum board unanimously approved plans for the Oakland Athletics to negotiate a lease agreement for 2025-2026 with the teams’ owner.
Oakland Interim Soccer Stadium mid-field view, rendering by HOK
Oakland Interim Soccer Stadium east concourse, rendering by HOK
The Oakland Roots is a men’s soccer club founded in 2018 in Oakland. The team is part of the Division Two United Soccer League, placing it just below the Division 1 Major League Soccer League. The team plays at Cal State East Bay in Hayward. Oakland Soul is a women’s soccer team that started in Oakland in 2022 and joined the USL W League last year. Soul currently plays at the Merritt College Soccer Stadium. Oakland Pro Soccer LLC owns both teams.
The proposal will create a temporary stadium with a seating capacity for 8,500 fans, with an option to expand for 10,000 fans in the future if desired. To make the temporary nature of the project economically feasible, the facility will be made of modular materials like shopping containers and tents. Along with seating, the stadium will have office space for operations, ticketing, merchandise, concessions, team support facilities, and a hospitality club. Parking will be included for just 103 cars but just 12 bicycles.
Oakland Interim Soccer Stadium West Entry plaza, rendering by HOK
Oakland Interim Soccer Stadium South Stage, rendering by HOK
HOK is the project architect. PGAdesign is overseeing the landscape architecture, BKF is involved for civil engineering, and Lloyd Sport + Engineering will be responsible for the civil field engineering. Though not strictly speaking architectural, the use of shipping containers is a familiar material for the port city.
The site is located next to the Coliseum, where the Oakland A’s are expected to finish out their last season in the Bay Area this year. The team owner, John Fisher, hopes to find an interim field to play in the meantime and inaugurate their Las Vegas stadium by 2028.
Oakland Interim Soccer Stadium north aerial view, rendering by HOK
Oakland Interim Soccer Stadium site highlighted in red, illustration by HOK
For this season, the Roots and Soul will continue playing in their respective stadiums. The Roots have already started their season, and the Soul is expecting to start their first game this May.
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big thumbs up!
Roots, baybayyyyy!!!
Can someone please answer this question — are the Roots ever going to play inside the Coliseum/on the field the A’s currently use for their games?
Probably not because they are a USL championship team and not a MLS team. They would not need the capacity.