More than 50 East Bay business and community leaders, and East Bay Innovation Awards finalists, came together on the turf at the Oakland Coliseum this past Saturday to see the Oakland Roots in action in a United Soccer League (USL) Jägermeister Cup match against the Orange County SC. The group was treated to a great match, even though the outcome of this back-and-forth game ultimately did not go the way Oakland fans had hoped.
Several members of the Oakland Roots leadership team joined gameday attendees and representatives from event sponsor Fremont Bank on the field, providing an opportunity to learn more about the team’s plans and priorities firsthand. Since its founding, the club has intentionally engaged with Oakland community members and leaders across the broader East Bay to leverage the unique power of sports to create positive social and health outcomes. Being purpose-driven is a core value of the club and has led to numerous community partnerships focused on holistic wellness and other key issues important to Oakland residents and the broader East Bay community.
The Oakland Roots began playing in 2019 and joined the USL Championship in 2021. In 2022, the club announced the formation of its women’s team, the Oakland Soul, which has been playing since 2023. This year is the Oakland Roots’ inaugural season at the Oakland Coliseum; in previous seasons, they played at the Laney College football stadium before moving to the Cal State East Bay campus in Hayward for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. For many of our guests, it was their first time attending an Oakland Roots game (at any location), and they had a chance to learn more about soccer and the momentum that this sport has been garnering in the East Bay as well as nationally.
With the Bay Area poised to host several World Cup matches in 2026, the Oakland Roots are seeking to host one of the national teams that will be playing matches in the region at their practice facility in Alameda. The City of Alameda is excited about this potential opportunity, with the Alameda City Council recently approving an agreement to share up to $150,000 in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue to support this effort. According to Lindsay Barenz, Oakland Roots and Soul President, “The World Cup is arguably the single largest sporting event in the world and will be a benefit for our entire community and region,” she said.
East Bay EDA is excited about the authenticity and excitement that the Oakland Roots & Soul Soccer Club is bringing to professional sports in the East Bay region. If you haven’t been out to a game yet, it’s not too late – we encourage you to check the schedule and get out to a game to experience it for yourself.