The Arena The O Roaracle | |
 | |
 | |
  Oakland Arena Location in California Show map of California Oakland Arena Location in the United States Show map of 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 / 37.75028°N 122.20306°W /37.75028; -122.20306 |
| Public transit |  AC Transit:45,46L, 73,90,98,646,657,805Alameda CountyEast Oakland Shuttle  Amtrak:Capitol Corridor atOakland Coliseum  BART:    atColiseumHarbor Bay Business Park Shuttle |
| Owner | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority (City of Oakland andAlameda 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)[1] $121 million(1996–97 renovation) |
| Architect | Skidmore, Owings and Merrill[1] HNTB (renovation) |
| General contractor | Guy F. Atkinson Company[1] |
| 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 Arena, often referred to as theOakland Coliseum Arena, is anindoor arena inOakland, California, and part of theOakland–Alameda County Coliseum Authority. Opened in 1966, the arena was originally home to theCalifornia Seals of theWestern Hockey League (WHL), later of theNational Hockey League (NHL), untiltheir move to Cleveland in 1976. The arena most famously served as home to theGolden State Warriors of theNational Basketball Association (NBA) from 1971 to 2019, excluding a period of extensive renovation during the1996–97 NBA season.
The arena was the home of theGolden State Warriors[2] from1971 to2019; for the 1996–97 season, however, the team played atSan Jose Arena while Oakland Arena underwent extensive renovations. TheCalifornia Golden Bears of thePac-10 played 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 Finals were played at theCow Palace inDaly City, as the Coliseum was unavailable at the time. The 2017 championship was the first time that aBay Area team won a title in their home venue since theOakland Athletics in the1974 World Series.
The arena's first tenants were theCalifornia Seals of theWestern Hockey League, who moved acrossthe bay from theCow Palace in 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 Seals continued to play at the arena after having transferred to the NHL, until the teammoved to Cleveland after the1975–76 NHL season.[3]
The Coliseum hosted theAmerican Basketball Association'sOakland Oaks (1967–1969), a charter member of the new ABA in 1967. The Oaks signedSan Francisco Warriors starRick Barry away from the rivalNational Basketball Association in 1968. The team was owned by entertainerPat Boone and also had starsLarry Brown andDoug Moe on 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 Buccaneers and finally theIndiana Pacers in 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.[4]
The Bay Bombers (roller derby, 1966–1973) as well as theGolden Bay Earthquakes of theoriginal MISL during the 1982–83 season and theOakland Skates, a professionalroller hockey team active from 1993 to 1995, all played there.WWE also holds professional wrestling shows at the arena.
In 2020, theOakland Panthers of theIndoor Football League, co-owned by NFL All-Pro and Oakland nativeMarshawn Lynch, were to begin play at Oakland Arena.[5] 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 Panthers beginning with the 2022 season citing the uncertainty of the arena's future.[6]
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 Arena inSeattle. The renovation began in mid-1996 and was completed in time for the Warriors' return in the fall of1997 (they played the1996–97 season at the San Jose Arena, now theSAP Center at San Jose, home of the NHL'sSharks). Included in the renovation was a new center overheadLED scoreboard and 360-degree fascia display. The new configuration seats 19,596 for basketball.
On October 20, 2006, the Golden State Warriors andOracle Corporation announced that Oakland Arena would be known as Oracle Arena for a 10-year term. A press conference was held on October 30.[7] "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.[8]
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.[9][10] Shortly after the Warriors moved to San Francisco in 2019, the arena reverted to its old Oakland Arena name.
 | This sectioncontainspromotional content. Please helpimprove it by removingpromotional language and inappropriateexternal links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from aneutral point of view.(October 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
On May 13, 2007, 20,679 fans watched the Warriors lose to theUtah Jazz 115–101 in Game 4 ofthe Western 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 Lakers and 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-Celtics game.[11]
This record was broken yet again on April 10, 2008, when Oracle Arena hosted 20,737 fans in a Warriors loss to theDenver Nuggets.[12]
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.[13]
Frank Sinatra performed at the Coliseum for a fundraising rally forHubert Humphrey's presidential campaign on 22 May 1968.[14]
The Rolling Stones performed two shows on November 9, 1969.
The Concert a live album by American rock bandCreedence Clearwater Revival was recorded at theOakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena inOakland, California, on January 31, 1970.
Elvis Presley kicked off his second tour of 1970 at the Coliseum on November 10, 1970. He would return again on November 11, 1972.
Marvin Gaye made 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-Funkadelic recorded half the albumLive: P-Funk Earth Tour at the Oakland Coliseum Arena on January 21, 1977. The album was released in April of that year.
Queen performed concerts at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in 1978, 1980, and 1982, during theirJazz,Game, and "Hot Space Tours, respectively.
In 1984,Duran Duran performed 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 theirArena album.
Frank Sinatra,Dean Martin andSammy Davis Jr. opened their "Together Again Tour" at the Coliseum on 13 March 1988.[15]
Nirvana performed concert at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in 1993, during their In Utero Tour.
Beyoncé performed at the venue numerous times from 2004 to 2009, notably throughout her tours asVerizon Ladies First Tour,Destiny Fulfilled... and Lovin' It,The Beyoncé Experience andI Am... Tour.
On November 8 and November 9, 2005,U2 performed at the arena as part of theirVertigo Tour,Damian Marley opened for them.
In 2010,James Taylor andCarole King performed at the arena as part of theirTroubadour Reunion Tour.[citation needed]
Adele performed at the arena during herAdele Live 2016 tour on August 2, 2016.[16]
KISS, an American rock band, played their final concert in the Bay Area withDavid Lee Roth ofVan Halen on March 6, 2020.[17]
K-pop groupTWICE held their4th World Tour 'III' on February 18, 2022.[18]
Tyler, the Creator performed withKali Uchis andVince Staples for his “Call Me If You Get Lost” tour on April 1, 2022.[19]
Paul McCartney performed there on May 6 and 8, 2022.[20]
Pearl Jam performed on May 12 and 13, 2022 for their Gigaton tour.[citation needed]
Korean boy groupStray Kids performed on July 12, 2022, as part of their North American arena tour forManiac World Tour.[21]
Diljit Dosanjh[22] performed on 29 July 2022, as part of his world tour[23]
Sidhu Moose Wala was scheduled to perform on August 13, 2022, for hisBack To Business World Tour, but died on May 29.[citation needed]
In 2023,Suga ofBTS performed two shows on May 16-17 as a part of theD-Day Tour.[24]
Hong Kong boy groupMIRROR performed their first US arena concert on 5 April 2024 as part of the FEEL THE PASSION CONCERT TOUR 2024[25]
Melanie Martinez performed here for her very first US arena concert tour,The Trilogy Tour on May 12, 2024.
K-pop singer-songwriterIU performed at the arena during herHEREH World Tour on July 30, 2024.[26]
Twenty One Pilots brought theirThe Bandito Tour to the arena on November 11, 2018, and then returned for theirThe Clancy World Tour on August 24, 2024.
In 2025,J-Hope ofBTS will be performing two shows on March 31 and April 1 as a part of theHope on the Stage Tour.[27]
TheGrateful Dead played more concerts at this venue than at any other, with 66 shows between 1979 and 1995,[28][29] 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.
Early in 2013, the Warriors announced they would move back to San Francisco and build a new arena.[30] It was originally suggested that the arena would be built on the decaying sites of Piers 30–32 near the foot of theBay Bridge,[30] but the plan was met with opposition due to concerns about traffic, environmental impacts and obstruction of views.[31] In April 2014, the Warriors purchased 12 acres inMission Bay as the site for a new 18,000-seat arena planned to open for the2018–19 NBA season.[32] 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.[33] Because of delays due to litigation filed by arena opponents the opening season was pushed to the start of the2019–20 NBA season.[34]
The new arena was namedChase Center.[35] On January 9, 2019, theSan Francisco Giants announced that their home AT&T Park would be renamedOracle Park, with the Oracle naming rights moving there from the arena.[36] 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.[37] The Warriors played their final playoff game at Oracle Arena on June 13, 2019, a 114–110 loss to theToronto Raptors in 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 theSave-On-Foods Memorial Centre inVictoria, British Columbia.[38][39]
Ever since the Warriors moved across the Bay to San Francisco, the arena remains open under the new name Oakland Arena.[40] In February 2025, Oakland Arena was used for some events of the2025 NBA All-Star Game hosted by the Warriors, including theCelebrity Game, All-Star Practice, and HBCU Classic.[41][42]
The seating capacity for basketball has expanded from 13,000 to 19,000 in over a half-century of use:[43]
| 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 |
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Home of the Golden State Warriors 1966–1967 1971–1996 1996–1997 1997–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | WTA Tour Championships venues 1978 | Succeeded by Madison Square Garden |
| Preceded by | World Figure Skating Championships Venue 1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by first arena | Home of the California Golden Seals 1967–1976 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Host of the NBA All-Star Game 2000 | Succeeded by |
Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|
