Oakland Coliseum

A multi-purpose stadium in Oakland, California, home to the San Francisco Unicorns and Oakland Roots SC, and former home of the Oakland Athletics and Oakland Raiders.

The Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, often shortened to the Oakland Coliseum, is a multi-purpose stadium in Oakland, California, United States. It serves as part of the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Complex, located next to Oakland Arena. In 2017, the playing surface was dedicated as Rickey Henderson Field in honor of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and former Oakland Athletics left fielder Rickey Henderson. The Oakland Coliseum is currently the home of the San Francisco Unicorns of Major League Cricket. The stadium was the home of the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball from 1968 to 2024. It was also the home of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League from 1966 until 1981, when the team moved to Los Angeles, and again after the team's return, from 1995 until 2019, when the team moved to Las Vegas. For the last years of top-flight professional sports at the venue, it was primarily used for baseball. It was the last remaining stadium in the United States shared by professional baseball and football teams. It has occasionally been used for soccer, currently being host to second-division soccer league USL Championship's Oakland Roots SC, and has previously hosted select San Jose Earthquakes matches in 2008 and 2009. Additionally, it was used for international matches during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Quick Facts

Nickname

The Coliseum
Milk Bowl
The Black Hole
Baseball's Last Dive Bar

Address

7000 Coliseum Way

Location

Oakland, California, United States

Owner

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority (City of Oakland and Alameda County)

Operator

AEG

Record attendance

Baseball: 56,310 (July 21, 2018, Athletics vs Giants) Football: 62,784 (January 14, 2001, Raiders vs Ravens)

Surface

Tifway II Bermuda Grass

Scoreboard

36 ft (11 m) high by 145 ft (44.2 m) wide

Lore & Background

The Coliseum has a seating capacity of up to 63,132 depending on its configuration; an upper deck dubbed 'Mount Davis' by fans was added as part of a 1996 renovation for the Raiders' return to Oakland. In 2006, citing a desire to provide a more 'intimate' environment, the Athletics blocked off the entirety of the Coliseum's third deck during its games, which artificially limited its capacity to 34,077 (making it the smallest stadium in Major League Baseball). On April 11, 2017, with Dave Kaval as the team president, the Athletics began to reopen some of the sections in the third deck, and open the Mount Davis deck for selected marquee games; this configuration made it, by contrast, the largest baseball stadium in the United States by capacity through 2024. The state of Oakland Coliseum has been widely criticized; sports fans and players alike consider the Coliseum to be poorly maintained and out of date. During its later years as an MLB stadium it was often cited, along with Tropicana Field, as one of the worst ballparks in the league. The Athletics played their final season at the Coliseum in 2024, moving to West Sacramento's Sutter Health Park while planning to relocate to Las Vegas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long did the A's play at the Coliseum?

The Oakland Athletics called this stadium their home for over five decades, spanning from its opening in 1968 through the end of the 2024 season. This tenure made it one of the longest continuous runs by a single franchise in a specific ballpark.

What is significant about the playing surface?

In 2017, the field was officially dedicated as Rickey Henderson Field to honor the Hall of Fame left fielder who played for the team. This tribute recognizes his legendary status and contributions to the club during its time in Oakland.

Why was the stadium design unique?

The Coliseum featured a multi-purpose layout that allowed it to host both Major League Baseball games and NFL football matches simultaneously with the Raiders. This shared arrangement defined the venue's identity for decades before the teams eventually separated or moved.