Oakland to negotiate with pro soccer teams for stadium near Coliseum – San Francisco Chronicle

“Thank you to Roots and Soul for being rooted in Oakland,” Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan said at the meeting. 

The move comes as the city grapples with the threat of losing a third sports franchise in the span of less than a decade. The Oakland A’s confirmed earlier this year their plans to relocate to Las Vegas, following earlier departures by the Raiders and Warriors. The A’s lease to play games at the Coliseum ends in 2024, but where they will continue to play until a new Las Vegas stadium is built remains unknown. 

The city is currently negotiating to lease or sell its share of the Coliseum to the African American Sports and Entertainment Group, a local development organization. AASEG has proposed building a $5 billion megaproject with housing, restaurants and a new convention center at the 155-acre Coliseum site. Two weeks ago, the A’s turned down an offer by AASEG to buy the team’s 50% share in the complex.

The Black-owned development group has said it also wants to bring a WNBA team to the city, but there have not been any updates on those efforts. In May, the Oakland Roots and Soul signed a partnership with AASEG to work together on the soccer teams’ efforts at the Coliseum. 

If the city and the soccer teams reach an agreement, Roots and Soul would build a temporary outdoor stadium until they find a permanent home. The city and the county jointly acquired the Malibu property in 1994. It was previously used from the 1970s to 1990s as a miniature car racing track known as the Malibu Grand Prix.