⏩ Oakland arena: Warriors’ old home alive, well and booking.
Acts, patrons ‘anxious to get back,’ authority director says
The ancient Coliseum Arena was abandoned by the Warriors two years ago and has been COVIDquiet for the past 15 months, but don’t send for the wrecking ball.
The 55yearold arena is about to spring back to life.
“We believe we are ideally suited to attract a lot of events,” said Henry Gardner, executive director of the Joint Powers Authority, which administers the Coliseum and the arena for the city of Oakland and Alameda County. “We had nary a one for the last 15 months, but already we are booking events, lots of them, big events, at the arena, and I think there are a couple of them at the stadium.”
Two Oakland development groups are vying to bring a WNBA team to the area, either an expansion team or a relocated team. The WNBA has indicated interest, but such a scenario is probably a couple of years down the road, at least.
Meanwhile, Gardner says the arena is ready to rock right now.
“People are anxious to get their shows back on the road, literally, and patrons are anxious to get back into these facilities,” Gardner said.
When the Warriors moved to San Francisco, there was talk that the Oakland arena might become a white elephant, as top arena acts and events flocked to Chase Center.
“We didn’t think so, and we think we’re going to be proved right,” Gardner said. “We have a superior location over Chase Center. You can take BART, you can take AC Transit, you can park right there and walk a few feet and you’re inside the arena.
“Our venue is very well known nationally, and many of these artists are returning. And we didn’t build a $100 billion facility, so our prices are far more competitive.”
Although ultimate ownership of the Coliseum site is up in the air — the A’s have an agreement to purchase a 50% share from Alameda County, and at least three groups are bidding for the other half — Gardner said he has indications that the arena will stay. Two of the groups bidding for the Coliseum site say the arena figures into their plans.
“In every iteration of the Coliseum site (in our plans), the arena is staying,” said Ray Bobbitt, a leader of African American Sports and Entertainment Group. “That is a community jewel, it creates yearround employment, everything from Disney On Ice to circuses. It’s our arena for the East Bay region, people love it, it’s in great shape.”
Gardner stressed that while the Coliseum arena is eager to attract business, the JPA won’t be a soft touch on rental fees.
“We’re not going to be desperate because the place has been dormant,” Gardner said, adding, “We have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure we get the best economic deal we can . ... We’re playing with taxpayers’ money, general fund money that goes for essential services, the same pot of money that keeps the libraries open and keeps the streets paved and keeps the firefighters on trucks. So don’t bring your song to me about free anything.”
One of the first big events at the Arena will be a Celine Dion concert Sept. 4. Dion plays Chase Center the night before.