City Government

Oakland Moves to Sell Share of Oakland Coliseum

If approved, awarding this vital site for development to an Oakland-based African American development group would help remedy extensive racial disparities in Oakland contracts and economic opportunity, the statement said.

Published

5 years ago

October 2, 2021

Isabelle Price

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Oakland is taking the next step to sell its interest in the Oakland Coliseum Complex to the African American Sports and Entertainment Group AASEG.

Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan and Councilmember Noel Gallo announced on September 28 that they have submitted a scheduling request for a proposal to proceed with approval non-binding terms of an agreement for the proposed acquisition and development (including, purchase, lease, and partnership) of the City of Oakland’s 50% undivided interest in the Coliseum.

The Coliseum property is a large, publicly owned site that has excellent connectivity throughout the region, including with BART, Amtrak, freeway, and airport access. “By developing it in a way that provides jobs, housing at all income levels, and public revenue, we can achieve significant improvement for the Oakland community, especially in the East Oakland area where it is located,” their statement read.

The request to schedule the item will be heard Thursday, September 30 during the Rules Committee meeting at 10:30 a.m. The item is proposed to come to the full Council in October.

Kaplan has worked towards revitalization of the Coliseum for several years. Two years ago, in an Op-Ed for the Oakland Post, she wrote of the existing concerns about the loss of jobs, lack of affordable housing, and the further erosion of the Black community in East Oakland, and how community-oriented revitalization can help remedy these problems. See Op-Ed at https://www.postnewsgroup.com/opinion-a-vision-for-the-future-of-the-coliseum-area/
AASEG is an Oakland-based group focused on creating economic opportunity for the Black community in East Oakland, as well as the community throughout Oakland and beyond, and using the Coliseum Complex as a vehicle for economic equity and social justice.

AASEG has agreed to 35% affordable housing and to cover the City’s project costs during the negotiation process. The group projects the creation of up to 40,000 jobs, and significant inclusion of local residents. AASEG already cleared a major hurdle when the Oakland City Council adopted Kaplan’s Resolution 88764, on July 20, 2021, which directed the City Administrator to negotiate with AASEG the potential terms of agreement for the City’s interest in the Coliseum Complex.

Furthermore, AASEG has already submitted a proposal to the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to lease the Arena in the Coliseum site for a WNBA team, the terms of which has been approved by the Oakland City Council and the full JPA Board.https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/wnba-team-one-step-closer-to-coming-to-oakland/

Currently, the City of Oakland owns a 50% share of the large, easily accessible property known as the Coliseum. The site is a major regional hub, served by BART, Amtrak, airport connector and freeway, and in providing thousands of jobs to Oakland residents.

It also contains many acres that can be used to provide housing for all income levels, jobs, business, sports, entertainment and more, and which has completed both environmental review and the surplus lands act notification process, to allow for proceeding with revitalizing it.

Given much of Oakland’s community, including parts of East Oakland, have been harmed by past decisions that undermined opportunity and increased inequality, the development must be done in a way to improve, and not harm, conditions for long-time, disparately impacted communities, and be planned in close connection with community needs.

AASEG has received wide support from the Oakland community. Over 40 community and labor groups have expressed support for AASEG’s vision and plans for the Coliseum Complex, from the Building and Construction Trades to the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce. Oaklanders are enthusiastic about AASEG’s plans to inject much needed economic vitality into East Oakland, which would benefit all of Oakland.

Kaplan stated: “I am thrilled that we have the opportunity to bring jobs, housing at all income levels, sports, entertainment and more to this vital Oakland site, in a way that strengthens equity and vibrancy for the community at this transit-accessible location.”

Gallo, who has been actively supporting the effort for improving the area, said: “We see the harm that is caused by blight and abandonment, and our communities in East Oakland and the surrounding area deserve better. I am honored to help move forward this important proposal from AASEG, to help improve and uplift our community.”

Ray Bobbitt, of AASEG stated: “The African American Sports and Entertainment Group has agreed with City Negotiators to increase its offer to $115 million on the City’s 50% undivided interest of the Coliseum Complex. In addition, the AASEG has agreed to other critical negotiation elements, including 35% affordable housing and covering the City’s costs during the negotiation process. The AASEG will submit its revised term sheet (September 28), which leaves open the options of buying the site, leasing the site, or partnering with the City on the site.”

Rules (Scheduling) Committee Meeting Info: September 30, 2021, 10:30 a.m. meeting agenda: Link Zoom Meeting Link : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87529531780
Link to Scheduling Request for Item: Link

The Oakland Post’s coverage of local news in Alameda County is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support community newspapers across California.

Isabelle Price

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of July 15 – 21, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 15 – 21, 2026

Published

4 days ago

July 18, 2026

Oakland Post

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From Disparity Study to Solutions: Oakland Coalition and Mayor Barbara Lee Renew Commitment to Reform City Contracting

She committed to ensuring the coalition has direct access to City leadership by designating Assistant Deputy City Administrator Chuck Baker the primary liaison. Working alongside Deputy City Administrator Sofia Navarro, DWES Director Emylene Aspilla, Race and Equity Director Darlene Flynn, and other City departments, the coalition will continue advancing these priorities while maintaining regular communication with City leadership.

Published

7 days ago

July 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Present at the recent meeting on implementing recommendations on Oakland’s Disparity Study on city work contracts were (first row, l. to r.): Chuck Baker, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and Darlene Flynn. Second row, l. to r.) Samuel Adams, Erica Astrella, Chadwick Spell, Cathy Adams, Stanley Cooper, Maria Wagner, Len Turner, Derek Barnes, Paul Cobb. Photo courtesy of Oakland Mayor’s Office.

Special to The Post

On June 30, a coalition of minority business leaders, contractors and others met with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to discuss the City’s commitment to implement recommendations outlined in Oakland’s Disparity Study and eliminate barriers that have historically prevented Black and minority-owned businesses from fully participating in public contracting opportunities.

Representatives of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC), National Association of Minority Contractors Northern California (NAMC NorCal), Construction Resource Center (CRC), and the East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA) said the meeting represented an important milestone in a process that has been underway for several months.

On April 21, the Oakland City Council’s Life Enrichment Committee received a progress report from the Department of Workplace and Employment Standards (DWES), where Director Emylene Aspilla presented the coalition’s working document and outlined a collaborative implementation plan between the coalition and the City. That report established 30-, 60-, and 90-day objectives focused on five key priorities:

Reforming Local and Small Local Business Enterprise (L/SLBE) waiver practices
Strengthening prompt payment compliance
Improving procurement forecasting and transparency
Expanding contractor capacity building and business development
Increasing oversight, accountability, and public reporting

A series of working sessions was scheduled between coalition representatives, DWES, and the City Administrator’s Office to begin implementing those priorities but were temporarily delayed by the resignation of former City Administrator Jestin Johnson.

Rather than allowing that momentum to stall, OAACC President and CEO Cathy Adams requested a meeting with Lee to gain clarity on the City’s direction and reaffirm its commitment to implementing the recommendations contained within the Disparity Study.

Coalition leaders described the meeting as productive, candid, collaborative, and encouraging.

During the meeting, Lee spoke not only from her role as mayor but also from her experience as an 8(a) contractor and business owner, sharing that she understands firsthand what it takes to build and grow a successful company, employ a substantial workforce, compete for public work, and navigate the complexities of municipal contracting.

Mayor Lee also expressed her commitment to personally participate in future working meetings with the coalition.

“This meeting represents a renewed commitment to partnership,” said Adams. “Mayor Lee listened, engaged, and demonstrated that she wants to move beyond conversation and into implementation.”

CRC’s Len Turner said the roadmap is already in place. ““The City already has the evidence. What’s been missing is execution. …Now it’s time to deliver results.”

Mario Wagner, president of NAMC NorCal agreed that the next phase must focus on implementation, funding, and accountability.

“The coalition is ready to get to work. …The next step is ensuring these initiatives receive meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle. Just as important, the City must establish transparent reporting mechanisms that keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and accountability.”

Coalition leaders also acknowledged that while City leadership has indicated it is reviewing Local and Small Local Business Enterprise waiver practices, the community continues to seek a formal response regarding existing long-term waivers, including waivers extending 10 and 25 years. The coalition believes those waivers should be comprehensively reviewed and, where appropriate, rolled back as part of the City’s broader contracting reforms.

The coalition is also calling on the City to include meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle to support implementation of the Disparity Study recommendations and establish better methods and mechanisms to keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and transparent accountability.

The coalition’s immediate next step is to schedule a working meeting with Baker, Aspilla, Lee, and the appropriate City staff to review what has already been accomplished under the implementation framework.