The Coliseum

The exterior of the Oakland Coliseum, Aug-2009.

Looking down from halfway up “Mount Davis” in center field.

The view from directly behind home plate, which used to be of the hills but is now mainly of the football stand.

• Location: Off Nimitz Freeway (I-880) at Hegenberger Road, Oakland, Calif.
• Opened: 1966 (1968 for baseball)
• Alternate names: Network Associates Coliseum (1998), McAfee Coliseum (2004)
• Home team: Oakland Athletics, American League (1968-present); Oakland Raiders, National Football League (1966-80, 1992-present)
• Capacity: 43,662 for baseball

Chronological Tour: Stop 128

Rating: 2 baseballs

What saves the Coliseum (which has had several naming rights sponsors in the last few years, most recently McAfee Software) are two things: grass, which is particularly important for a multi-purpose facility, and the perception that yes, this was a special place at one time. After all, there was some history here, particularly in the early 1970s, when the Athletics won three straight World Series. Unfortunately, upon my return trip in August 2009, the Raiders had already played a preseason game, and parts of the outfield grass which had been covered by football stands had turned yellow.

The Athletics had been about moving their act down the freeway a few miles, to Fremont, near San Jose, leaving the Coliseum to the Raiders. However, that proposal was officially terminated in early 2009, leaving the ultimate fate of the Athletics in doubt.