The Oakland Athletics played at Oakland Coliseum from 1968 to 2024
The Oakland Athletics (often called the A's) made Oakland Coliseum their home for 56 seasons, from their first game in 1968 through the 2024 season. The team then relocated to Las Vegas, ending one of baseball's longest continuous tenancies at a single ballpark. During those decades, the A's won three World Series titles (1972, 1973, and 1974) and became one of the most recognizable franchises in Major League Baseball, despite playing in a facility that was originally built for football.
Oakland Coliseum sits in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, California, about 10 miles south of downtown. The ballpark was constructed in 1966 as a multipurpose stadium designed primarily for the Oakland Raiders football team. When the A's arrived two years later, they shared the facility with the Raiders, a partnership that lasted until the Raiders moved to Los Angeles in 1995, then returned to Oakland from 2018 to 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Oakland Coliseum hosted the Athletics for 56 consecutive seasons, from 1968 through 2024, making it one of baseball's longest-running home stadiums for a single team.
- The ballpark was built in 1966 as a football stadium and was shared with the Oakland Raiders for most of the A's tenure there.
- The A's won three consecutive World Series championships at Oakland Coliseum in 1972, 1973, and 1974 with a roster that included Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter.
- The Athletics relocated to Las Vegas after the 2024 season, ending the team's 56-year history in Oakland.
The ballpark's original design and football-first layout
Oakland Coliseum was designed as a dual-purpose stadium, which meant baseball was always a secondary consideration in the building's layout and infrastructure. The field was configured to accommodate both football's 100-yard field and baseball's diamond, a compromise that created some unusual dimensions. The left field foul line was only 330 feet from home plate, while right field extended to 400 feet, making the ballpark asymmetrical in ways that affected how the game was played there.
The stadium's multipurpose design also meant that the seating bowl was oriented toward football rather than baseball. Fans in many sections sat at angles that were not ideal for watching baseball, and the upper deck was particularly far from the field. Despite these limitations, Oakland Coliseum developed its own character and became familiar to generations of A's fans who grew up attending games there.
The A's dynasty years and World Series wins
The Athletics' most successful period at Oakland Coliseum came in the early 1970s, when the team won three consecutive World Series titles. The 1972 A's defeated the Cincinnati Reds, the 1973 team beat the New York Mets, and the 1974 squad won against the Los Angeles Dodgers. These championships were built on a roster that included future Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, and Rollie Fingers, along with manager Dick Williams and later manager Alvin Dark.
The A's teams of this era were known for their aggressive style of play, colorful personalities, and distinctive uniforms featuring green and gold colors. Owner Charles O. Finley encouraged an unconventional approach to the game that sometimes drew criticism but also created memorable moments. The dynasty years put Oakland on the baseball map and established the A's as one of the sport's premier franchises during that decade.
Shared tenancy with the Oakland Raiders
For most of the A's history at Oakland Coliseum, the facility was shared with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. The Raiders played there from 1966 to 1994, then relocated to Los Angeles. When the Raiders returned to Oakland in 2018, they again shared the stadium with the A's until both teams departed after the 2024 season.
Sharing a stadium created practical challenges for both teams. The field had to be converted between baseball and football configurations, which required significant maintenance work. The Raiders' presence also meant that during football season, the baseball field was sometimes in less-than-ideal condition. Despite these complications, the arrangement worked for decades and became part of Oakland's sports identity.
Attendance and fan culture at the Coliseum
Oakland Coliseum developed a reputation for hosting passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans, even during periods when the team was not competitive. The ballpark's location in a working-class neighborhood made it accessible to fans who might not have been able to afford tickets at newer, more expensive stadiums. The A's cultivated a loyal fan base that showed up even in lean years, creating an atmosphere that many longtime fans considered authentic and unpretentious.
The stadium's age and condition became increasingly apparent as newer ballparks opened around the country. By the 2010s and 2020s, Oakland Coliseum was one of the oldest stadiums in Major League Baseball, and its multipurpose design meant it lacked many of the amenities that newer facilities offered. Discussions about building a new stadium for the A's began in earnest in the 2010s, ultimately leading to the team's decision to relocate to Las Vegas.
The end of an era: The Athletics' move to Las Vegas
After more than a decade of negotiations and failed stadium proposals, the Oakland Athletics announced in 2023 that they would relocate to Las Vegas beginning with the 2025 season. The team played its final game at Oakland Coliseum on September 26, 2024, ending 56 years of continuous baseball at the facility. The move marked the end of one of baseball's longest continuous relationships between a team and a ballpark.
The departure of the A's left Oakland without a Major League Baseball team for the first time since 1968. The Raiders had also left after the 2024 season, moving to Las Vegas as well. Oakland Coliseum, once home to multiple professional sports franchises, faced an uncertain future regarding its use and potential redevelopment.
What happened to Oakland Coliseum after the A's left
As of 2024, Oakland Coliseum remains standing but is no longer home to any Major League Baseball or National Football League teams. The city of Oakland and various development groups have proposed different uses for the site, ranging from conversion to other sports venues to mixed-use development that could include housing, retail, and entertainment. The future of the ballpark and the land it occupies remains a topic of discussion among Oakland residents and city officials.
The ballpark's 58-year history as a major sports venue ended with the A's departure. For fans who attended games there over the decades, Oakland Coliseum remains a significant part of their personal and the city's sports history, even as the facility itself transitions to whatever comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas?
The Athletics played their final game at Oakland Coliseum on September 26, 2024. The team began play in Las Vegas in the 2025 season. The move ended 56 consecutive seasons of A's baseball in Oakland.
How many World Series did the A's win at Oakland Coliseum?
The Athletics won three World Series championships while playing at Oakland Coliseum: in 1972 (defeating the Cincinnati Reds), 1973 (defeating the New York Mets), and 1974 (defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers). These three consecutive titles remain the team's only World Series wins.
Why was Oakland Coliseum built as a multipurpose stadium?
Oakland Coliseum was constructed in 1966 primarily for the Oakland Raiders football team. When the A's arrived in 1968, the facility was adapted for baseball, but its original football-first design meant the baseball dimensions and seating configuration were compromises rather than ideal for the sport.
What teams besides the A's played at Oakland Coliseum?
The Oakland Raiders of the National Football League shared Oakland Coliseum with the A's for most of the ballpark's history. The Raiders played there from 1966 to 1994, relocated to Los Angeles, then returned to Oakland from 2018 to 2024. Both teams departed after the 2024 season.