The Oakland Roots soccer team played their first game at their new venue, the former home of the Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Athletics.
Roughly 26,575 fans cheered during the sold-out home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday night.
Fans enjoyed the game, waving flags and chanting, “Dale, Dale, Dale, Oakland Roots!” and participated in the famous wave. It was a World Cup prelude for next year’s biggest soccer event in the Bay Area.
The Ohlone tribe of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust opened the festivities with a ritual dance performance as part of the Ohlone Land dedication on the field before the start of the game. There was a one-minute applause in the 24th minute to honor late Oakland Athletics legend Rickey Henderson, who wore number 24 while he played with A’s.
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Oakland native and rapper Too $hort fired up the fans with his hits during the halftime show. Unfortunately, the Roots lost 1-2 in a USL soccer match. San Antonio scored the first goal by Alexander Greive in minute 5. The Roots’ Justin Rasmussen countered with a world-class bicycle kick to tie the game 1-1 in the 7th minute of the first half. Later in the second half, in the 69th minute, San Antonio’s Luke Haakenson scored the victory goal.
The event concluded with spectacular fireworks over the Coliseum.
Ohlone People of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust perform a ritual dance during the Ohlone Land dedication before the start of the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Fans attend the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Ohlone People of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust perform a ritual dance during the Ohlone Land dedication before the start of the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Roots’ Justin Rasmussen (14) kicks the ball away against San Antonio’s Jake LaCava (9) during the first half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Roots take the field before the start of the home opener kick-off against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
San Antonio’s Jake LaCava (9) drives past Oakland Roots’ Justin Rasmussen (14) during the first half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Fans give a standing ovation in honor of the late Oakland Athletics legend Rickey Henderson during the minute 24 of the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Roots’ Ilya Alekseev (88) dribbles pastSan Antonio’s Jimmy Medranda (94) during the second half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Too $hort performs during the halftime of the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Roots’ Justin Rasmussen (14) passes the ball against the San Antonio’s Juan Osorio (34) during the second half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Fans cheeer during the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
San Antonio’s Mitchell Taintor (3) and Oakland Roots’ Ilya Alekseev (88) fight for the ball during the second half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Fans run along the bleachers with the Oakland Roots flags during the home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
San Antonio’s Jimmy Medranda (94) controls the ball intended to Oakland Roots’ Ilya Alekseev (88) during the first half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
San Antonio’s Alexis Souahy (5) confronts Oakland Roots’ EJ Johnson (22) after he fouled San Antonio goalkeeper Richard Sánchez (1) during the second half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Roots’ Ilya Alekseev (88) heads the ball against the San Antonio’s Jimmy Medranda (94) during the second half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Roots’ Justin Rasmussen (14) and teammates celebrate his goal against the San Antonio FC during the first half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Fans take part in the wave during the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
San Antonio’s Jimmy Medranda (94) slides for the ball against the Oakland Roots’ Panos Armenakas (10) during the first half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
San Antonio’s Jake LaCava (9) heads the ball against the Oakland Roots’ Justin Rasmussen (14) during the first half of the home opener of a USL soccer match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Fireworks light up the sky after the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The Roots lost 2-1. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Fireworks light up the sky after the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The Roots lost 2-1. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Fans attend the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Fireworks light up the sky after the Oakland Roots home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The Roots lost 2-1. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
