Oakland Arena

This article is about the indoor arena in Oakland, California. For the adjacent outdoor stadium, seeOakland Coliseum.

"Oracle Arena" redirects here. For baseball park in San Francisco, seeOracle Park.

Oakland Arena

The Arena
Venue viewed fromI-880(c. 2007)
Oakland Arena Location inOakland Oakland Arena Location in California Oakland Arena Location in the United States
Former names	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena (1966–1996) The Arena in Oakland (1997–2005) Oracle Arena (2006–2019)
Address	7000 Coliseum Way
Location	Oakland, California
Coordinates	37°45′1″N122°12′11″W
Public transit	AC Transit:45,46L,73,90,98,646,657,805 Alameda CountyEast OaklandShuttle Amtrak:Capitol CorridoratOakland Coliseum BART:OAKBOGatColiseum Harbor BayBusiness Park Shuttle
Owner	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority(City of OaklandandAlameda County)
Operator	AEG/ASM Global
Capacity	Basketball:19,596
Construction
Broke ground	April 15, 1964
Opened	November 9, 1966
Renovated	1996–97
Construction cost	US$24 million(original) $121 million(1996–97 renovation)
Architect	Skidmore, Owings and Merrill HNTB(renovation)
General contractor	Guy F. Atkinson Company
Tenants
California Seals(WHL) 1966–1967 Oakland Oaks(ABA) 1967–1969 California Golden Seals(NHL) 1967–1976 Golden State Warriors(NBA) 1971–1996; 1997–2019 San Francisco Golden Gaters(WTT) 1974–1978 Golden Bay Earthquakes(NASL/MISL) 1982–1984 Oakland Skates(RHI) 1993–1995 California Golden Bears(NCAA) 1997–1999

Oakland Arenais anindoor arenalocated inOakland, California,United States. From its opening in 1966 until 1996, it was known as theOakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena.After a major renovation completed in 1997, the arena was renamedThe Arena in Oaklanduntil 2005 andOracle Arenafrom 2006 to 2019. It is often referred to as theOakland Coliseum Arenaas it is part of theOakland–Alameda County Coliseum Complexwith the adjacentOakland Coliseum.Oakland Arena seats 19,596 fans for basketball.

History

Home franchises

The arena was the home of theGolden State Warriorsfrom1971to2019;for the 1996–97 season, however, the team played atSan Jose Arenawhile Oakland Arena underwent extensive renovations. TheCalifornia Golden Bearsof thePac-10played the 1997–98 and 1998–99 seasons at the arena while their primary home, Harmon Gym, was being renovated intoHaas Pavilion.For some years before then, the Bears played occasional games against popular non-conference opponents at the arena.

Oracle Arena has hosted games of the NBA Finals in2015,2016,2017,2018,and2019,where the Warriors won the NBA championship in 2015, 2017, and 2018. That 2015 title was the first time since 1975 the Warriors won the title; however, Games 2 and 3 of the1975 NBA Finalswere played at theCow PalaceinSan Francisco,as the Coliseum was unavailable at the time. The 2017 championship was the first time that a San Francisco-area team won a title in their home venue since theOakland Athleticsin the1974 World Series.

The arena's first tenants were theCalifornia Sealsof theWestern Hockey League,who moved acrossthe bayfrom theCow Palacein 1966. The owners of the San Francisco Seals had been awarded an expansion franchise in theNational Hockey League,on the condition they move out of the Cow Palace and into the then-new Oakland Coliseum Arena. The team changed its operating name from San Francisco Seals to California Seals in order to draw fans from both San Francisco and Oakland. TheCalifornia Golden Sealscontinued to play at the arena after having transferred to the NHL, until the teammoved to Clevelandafter the1975–76 NHL season.

The Coliseum hosted theAmerican Basketball Association'sOakland Oaks(1967–1969), a charter member of the new ABA in 1967. The Oaks signedSan Francisco WarriorsstarRick Barryaway from the rivalNational Basketball Associationin 1968. The team was owned by entertainerPat Booneand also had starsLarry BrownandDoug Moeon its roster. Brown and Barry are in the Basketball Hall of Fame. After a 22–56 record in their first season, the Oaks went 60–18 during the regular season in 1968–69. The Oaks then defeated theDenver Rockets,New Orleans Buccaneersand finally theIndiana Pacersin the playoffs to capture the ABA Championship. However, the team was plagued by poor attendance and Boone sold the team following their ABA Championship. They were relocated to Washington and became theWashington Caps.

The Bay Bombers (Roller Derby,1966–1973) as well as theGolden Bay Earthquakesof theoriginal MISLduring the 1982–83 season and theOakland Skates,a professionalroller hockeyteam active from 1993 to 1995, all played there.WWEalso holds professional wrestling shows at the arena.

In 2020, theOakland Panthersof theIndoor Football League,co-owned by NFL All-Pro and Oakland nativeMarshawn Lynch,were to begin play at the Oakland Arena.Due to the onset of theCOVID-19 pandemic,the Panthers postponed its start to 2022 and by August 2021, the Panthers announced they would instead play in San Jose as theBay Area Panthersbeginning with the 2022 season citing the uncertainty of the arena's future.

Renovation

Over three decades, the arena grew outdated, lacking the luxuries of newer ones. With just over 15,000 seats, it was one of the smallest venues in the league. Rather than building a new arena in Oakland, San Francisco orSan Jose,the decision was made to proceed with a US$121 million renovation that involved tearing out much of interior and building a new seating bowl within the existing structure. The original walls, roof and foundation remained intact, similar to the more recent rebuild ofClimate Pledge ArenainSeattle.The renovation began in mid-1996 and was completed in time for the Warriors' return in the fall of1997(they played the1996–97 seasonat the San Jose Arena, now theSAP Center at San Jose,home of the NHL'sSharks). Included in the renovation was a new center overheadLEDscoreboard and 360-degree fascia display. The new configuration seats 19,596 for basketball.

Oracle naming rights deal

Oracle Arena logo (2006–2019)

On October 20, 2006, the Golden State Warriors andOracle Corporationannounced that the Oakland Arena would be known as Oracle Arena for a 10-year term. A press conference was held on October 30."The O", as it is referred to, continued to be managed byOakland–Alameda County Coliseum Authority(JPA) and SMG. The JPA approved the deal at its November 10 meeting.

After the Warriors' resurgence since the 2012–13 season until the 2018–19 season, Oracle Arena was reckoned as one of the loudest arenas in the NBA. It was often called "Roaracle" because of the painfully high decibel levels sometimes generated at Warriors games.Shortly after the Warriors moved to San Francisco in 2019, the arena reverted to its old Oakland Arena name.

Attendance records

A record-breaking crowd watching the Warriors in the 2007 NBA playoffs.

On May 13, 2007, 20,679 fans watched the Warriors lose to theUtah Jazz115–101 in Game 4 of theWestern Conference semifinals.This was the highest attendance in the Warriors' 61-year history.

That record lasted until December 14,2007,when the Warriors hosted theLos Angeles Lakersand packed 20,705 into the Arena to set a new franchise attendance record.

The record was again broken on February 20, 2008, when the arena hosted 20,711 for the Warriors-Celticsgame.

This record was broken yet again on April 10, 2008, when Oracle Arena hosted 20,737 fans in a Warriors loss to theDenver Nuggets.

By the end of the 2016–17 regular season, Oracle had sold out 230 consecutive home games, a streak that continued throughout the team's playoff run. Oracle drew over 18,000 people per game for 12 straight seasons.

Concerts

Frank Sinatraperformed at the Coliseum for a fundraising rally forHubert Humphrey's presidential campaignon 22 May 1968.

The Rolling Stones performed two shows on November 9, 1969.

The Concert a live album by American rock bandCreedence Clearwater Revivalwas recorded at theOakland–Alameda County Coliseum ArenainOakland, California,on January 31, 1970.

Elvis Presleykicked off his second tour of 1970 at the Coliseum on November 10, 1970. He would return again on November 11, 1972.

Marvin Gayemade his official return to live performing and touring at the Coliseum Arena on January 4, 1974, and this show was the basis for his 1 million-selling live album,Marvin Gaye Live!At the time, music industry executives cited the tour as a "heralded event" as Gaye made a comeback to live touring nearly 4 years after the death of his late singing partnerTammi Terrell.

Parliament-Funkadelicrecorded half the albumLive: P-Funk Earth Tourat the Oakland Coliseum Arena on January 21, 1977. The album was released in April of that year.

Queenperformed concerts at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in 1978 and 1980, during theirJazzandGameTours, respectively.

In 1984,Duran Duranperformed here for their Sing Blue Silver Tour was filmed at the venue on 12, 13 and 15 of April. Footage from these shows were used in Arena (An Absurd Notion) and the TV special As The Lights Go Down and for theirArenaalbum.

Frank Sinatra,Dean MartinandSammy Davis Jr.opened their "Together Again Tour" at the Coliseum on 13 March 1988.

Nirvanaperformed concert at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in 1993, during their In Utero Tour.

On November 8 and November 9, 2005,U2performed at the arena as part of theirVertigo Tour,Damian Marleyopened for them.

In 2010,James TaylorandCarole Kingperformed at the arena as part of theirTroubadour Reunion Tour.

Adeleperformed at the arena during herAdele Live 2016tour on August 2, 2016.

KISS,an American rock band, played their final concert in the Bay Area withDavid Lee RothofVan Halenon March 6, 2020.

K-pop groupTWICEheld their4th World Tour 'III'on February 18, 2022.

Tyler, the Creatorperformed withKali UchisandVince Staplesfor his “Call Me If You Get Lost” tour on April 1, 2022.

Paul McCartneyperformed there on May 6 and 8, 2022.

Pearl Jamperformed on May 12 and 13, 2022 for their Gigaton tour.

Korean boy groupStray Kidsperformed on July 12, 2022 as part of their North American arena tour forManiac World Tour.

Sidhu Moose Walawas scheduled to performed on August 13, 2022, for hisBack To Business World Tour,but died on May 29.

Hong Kong boy groupMIRRORperformed their first US arena concert on 5 April 2024 as part of the FEEL THE PASSION CONCERT TOUR 2024

K-pop singer-songwriterIUperformed at the arena during herHEREH World Touron July 30, 2024.

The Grateful Dead

TheGrateful Deadplayed more concerts at this venue than at any other, with 66 shows between 1979 and 1995,and their December 16, 1992, concert at the arena was released asDick's Picks Volume 27,along with bonus tracks from their December 17, 1992, concert at the arena.

Warriors move back to San Francisco

Oracle Arena in June 2019 during the NBA Finals, the last series of games for theGolden State Warriorsat the arena

Early in 2013, the Warriors announced they would move back to San Francisco and build a new arena.It was originally suggested that the arena would be built on the decaying sites of Piers 30–32 near the foot of theBay Bridge,but the plan was met with opposition due to concerns about traffic, environmental impacts and obstruction of views.In April 2014, the Warriors purchased 12 acres inMission Bayas the site for a new 18,000-seat arena planned to open for the2018–19 NBA season.The new location eliminated the need for voter approval, which would have been required for the original site, though it had been unanimously approved by the San Francisco Supervisors in November 2012.Because of delays due to litigation filed by arena opponents the opening season was pushed to the start of the2019–20 NBA season.

The new arena was named theChase Center.On January 9, 2019, theSan Francisco Giantsannounced that their home AT&T Park would be renamedOracle Park,with the Oracle naming rights moving there from the arena.The Golden State Warriors played their final regular season game at Oracle Arena on April 7, 2019, with a 131–104 win over theLos Angeles Clippers.Notably, the team decided to wear their 2006–07 "We Believe" uniforms for that game, with the uniform choice not being revealed at any point beforehand until the Warriors players took off their warm-up uniforms shortly before tip-off, much to the delight of the home crowd.The Warriors played their final playoff game at Oracle Arena on June 13, 2019, a 114–110 loss to theToronto Raptorsin Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The loss ended the Warriors' quest for a third consecutive NBA championship. The court from that Finals game now sits at the Ian Stewart Complex inVictoria, British Columbia.

Ever since the Warriors moved across the Bay to San Francisco, the arena remains open under the new name Oakland Arena.

Seating capacity

An interior view of Oakland Arena.

The seating capacity for basketball has expanded from 13,000 to 19,000 in over a half-century of use:

Years	Capacity
1966–1972	13,502
1972–1973	12,905
1973–1974	13,123
1974–1976	12,787
1976–1977	13,155
1977–1980	13,237
1980–1982	13,239
1982–1984	13,335
1984–1985	13,295
1985–1986	15,011
1986–1997	15,025
1997–2019	19,596

External links

• Official website

Events and tenants
Preceded by War Memorial Gymnasium &San Francisco Civic Auditorium Cow Palace	Home of the Golden State Warriors 1966–1967 1971–1996 1996–1997 1997–2019	Succeeded by Cow Palace San Jose Arena Chase Center
Preceded by Madison Square Garden	WTA Tour Championships venues 1978	Succeeded by Madison Square Garden
Preceded by Olympiahalle,Munich	World Figure Skating Championships Venue 1992	Succeeded by Sportovní hala,Prague
Preceded by first arena	Home of the California Golden Seals 1967–1976	Succeeded by Richfield Coliseum(asCleveland Barons)
Preceded by Madison Square Garden	Host of the NBA All-Star Game 2000	Succeeded by MCI Center