Oakland Coliseum
Oakland, CA

Today, with over 60,000 seats the Oakland Coliseum looks very different than when it opened. In the mid 1940s Oakland officials first proposed that a new stadium be built in the area to attempt to lure a professional baseball and football team. It was 1960 before a site was chosen to build the stadium, near the C.W. Nimitz Freeway. Construction on the multipurpose stadium began in 1962. The stadium was constructed deep in the ground allowing fans to enter on the upper deck level. Named the Oakland Coliseum it was completed in four years. The Oakland Raiders played the first game ever at the Oakland Coliseum on September 18, 1966. For years fans had strongly support the Oakland Pacific Coast League franchise. Because of this Kansas City A’s owner Charlie Finley decided to move his baseball team to the Oakland Coliseum after the 1967 season. The Kansas City A's were renamed the Oakland A's.

The A's played their first game on April 17, 1968 when 50,219 fans packed the three tiered stadium. Built in a circular shape, many of the seats stretched from foul pole to foul pole, with bleachers beyond the outfield fence. Two Diamond Vision video/scoreboards were located above both the left and right field bleachers. Over the years, few changes took place at the Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders moved out of the coliseum to Los Angeles in 1981 but moved back in 1995.The coliseum remained an excellent place to watch a ballgame until 1995 when the Raiders moved back as drastic changed occurred at the Oakland Coliseum.

As part of an agreement when the Raiders moved back to Oakland, the coliseum was expanded. All of the outfield bleachers were removed replaced by a four-tier section of 22,000 seats. All of the orange seats were replaced by new green seats. The video boards are now above the stadium rim down both the left and right field lines. The coliseum was renamed UMAX Coliseum in 1997, but was later renamed Network Associates Coliseum in 1998. After the 2004 season, the stadium was renamed again and was known as McAfee Coliseum. After the 2008 season McAfee chose not to renew their naming rights contract and the stadium is now known as the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Since 2000, the A's have been a great team at the stadium winning several division championships and the wild card. Over the past several seasons, the team has been able to draw over two million fans to the Oakland Coliseum each season. Currently, the A’s are exploring options of building a new stadium in Fremont. Beginning in 2006, the A's closed the third deck of the Oakland Coliseum moving fans closer to the action and making the stadium more intimate. Although Oakland Coliseum can seat over 60,000, the official capacity is just over 34,000. Fans can easily arrive at the stadium via the BART Metro or drive and park in many of the lots that surround the Oakland Coliseum. Before the game, fans can be found tailgating, discussing baseball and enjoying each others company. Upon entering the stadium fans can easily access their seats in the first or second levels. The main concourse serves both the lower and second decks of the stadium allowing easy access for fans wanting views from different parts of the stadium. An all you can eat section is located in three sections of the upper deck directly behind homeplate. Only fans with tickets to this section can access these seats. The A's celebrate 40 years in Oakland in 2008. Although the Oakland Coliseum may not be one of the best ballparks in baseball, it is defiantly worth a visit.