Oakland Soccer Teams Grab Old Raiders Headquarters

Two Oakland soccer teams just scored big with the Raiders’ former base of operations.

The Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul soccer clubs are moving into the NFL team’s old digs at 1150-1220 Harbor Bay Parkway in Alameda’s Bay Farm Island, the San Francisco Business Times reported. San Francisco-based Redco closed the deal yesterday to buy the buildings for $24 million and lease them to the men’s and women’s squads.

Prologis had previously been in talks to buy the 16.8-acre site next to Oakland International Airport before backing out in December. The city of Oakland and Alameda County jointly owned the 118,847-square-foot property before selling to Redco and are expected to make at least $11 million from the deal after closing costs.

The Roots and Soul entered a 15-year lease with Redco that includes extension options for up to 25 years and starts with lower rent payments that increase over time, the clubs’ chief real estate officer Lydia Tan told the Business Times. The deal allows the Roots and Soul to focus on long-term investments and upgrades to the property such as expanding the field and renovating the locker rooms and showers.

Prior to the Raiders’ departure for Las Vegas in 2020, the buildings were used as the team’s headquarters and training facility. The former headquarters has a locker room, media production rooms, conference rooms, two indoor whirlpools with a steam room and a fenced and gated parking lot. The training facility boasts an indoor fitness space, an exterior pool and a large grass field.

The Roots and Soul have leased the two-building site and its turf soccer fields, training facilities, offices and parking from the city and county since 2021. The long-term practice facility was even renamed the University of California, San Francisco Health Oakland Roots and Soul Performance Center.

“Having a strong training facility is vital to the success of our club,” Lindsay Barenz, president of the Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul soccer clubs, told the Business Times. She thanked Redco, the city and county for “helping us secure a long-term home next door to the Oakland Airport, which is a huge step toward our long-term sustainability in Oakland.”

— Chris Malone Méndez