Saturday marked the close of another chapter at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, as the Oakland Roots Sports Club played their final match there after two seasons of calling that venue home. Their match against San Antonio FC ended in a scoreless draw. Fans continued to cheer, sing, and bang on drums throughout the whole match and stayed long after to enjoy the fireworks show the team put on over the Coliseum. Loyal Oakland fans said it was hard to say goodbye to yet another team at the Coliseum. The game started off as games at the Coliseum have for decades: with fans showing up early to tailgate out of their cars from the parking lot. Fans fired up their grills and played music in the parking lot, many reminiscing on their days of doing the same thing before Oakland Raiders and Oakland Athletics games in the past. ‘Los Roots,’ the support group for the Oakland Roots, gathered once more in the parking lot with drums, megaphones, and giant banners waving. They marched around the parking lot, then into the stadium, and across the field before the game. “We’ve been following them since 2018, and unfortunately today, it feels pretty heartbreaking, them leaving the Coliseum,” said Roots fan Martin Delgado. In March of 2025, the Roots began playing at the Oakland Coliseum, hoping to breathe new life into the aging but beloved venue. For that home opener match in 2025, the Roots broke league attendance records with more than 26,000 people. After the Raiders left the Coliseum in 2019 and the Athletics left the Coliseum in 2024, many fans were excited at the prospect of having a new team to root for at the venue. But as attendance numbers dropped, the Roots faced financial struggles. In early July of 2026, the Roots announced that they would not be playing at the Coliseum for the 2027 season, citing “limitations around event control, matchday flexibility, the fan experience, and operating costs.” In a release in late July, the club confirmed it was behind in its payments to the Coliseum and that with how quickly the agreement was finalized, “there was little opportunity to negotiate more sustainable terms.” By August, the Roots reached a “pay or don’t play” agreement with the Coliseum’s board of directors, which allowed the team to finish out the 2026 season. It is unclear where the Roots will play their 2027 season, though the team has several options it is considering. Short-term options for the Club include an Alameda training facility the club acquired relatively recently, which could be transformed into a venue for games. In the longer term, the Roots have their sights set on Oakland’s Howard Terminal site. The team reached an exploratory, negotiating agreement with the Port of Oakland, and a realty group to develop Oakland’s Howard Terminal site. The departure of yet another team from the Coliseum stings for Oaklanders and fans. “We are grateful we got to see more games in the Coliseum after the Raiders left, after the A’s left,” noted Jorge Bejarano with the Los Roots support group. “But here we go again.” “I hope that if we find a new facility, a new space that we’ll continue to tailgate and support our teams,” said Estefany Angulo of Oakland, who has been attending games at the Coliseum her entire life. All the Roots fans who spoke with NBC Bay Area said they plan to continue supporting the Roots regardless of where they play their next season. “Ah the Roots, anything for them,” said Martin Delgado, putting his hand over his heart. “Anywhere they go, we’ll always follow,” he continued. The Roots said attendance was 9,718 for Saturday’s match. At the end of Saturday’s match, fans were treated to a performance by Oakland artist Goapele, who recently joined the ownership group of the Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club. Fans were welcomed onto the field, where children ran on the grass, and families laid their blankets down to watch the fireworks display the team coordinated from behind the Coliseum. “Sadly, we’re here one last time,” said Estefany Angulo, who then added, “Hopefully it’s not he last time, but if it is, it’s gonna be a core memory for me.” ...read more read less