Memorable Moments at Network Associates Coliseum All Star Game: 1987 World Series: 1972, '73, '74, '88, '89, & '90 49 homeruns by rookie Mark McGwire in 1987. Catfish Hunter's no hitter on May 8, 1968. 1973 A.L. MVP Reggie Jackson NETWORK ASSOCIATES COLISEUM 7000 Coliseum Way Oakland, California 94621

    Today, with its 60,000 plus seats, Network Associates Coliseum looks a lot different than when it opened. After many years of having minor league baseball in the Oakland area, the city finally decided to build a stadium to attract a team to come to the area. An arena was also built next to the stadium to attract a basketball team. The movement to build a new stadium and arena began in 1945, but a site was not chosen until 1960. Construction on the stadium began in 1962. The new stadium would also be home to the Oakland Raiders (AFL), thus making the new stadium multipurpose. The stadium was constructed deep in the ground, allowing fans to enter on the upper deck level, near the C.W. Nimitz Freeway. The Raiders began playing at the stadium, which was named the Oakland Coliseum in 1966. With the Oakland area already drawing good attendance with a Pacific Coast League team; Kansas City A’s owner Charlie Finley decided to move his baseball team to the Oakland area to play in the new Oakland Coliseum after the 1967 season. The team would be called the Oakland Athletics.

The A’s began playing at the Oakland Coliseum in 1968. Opening Day came 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. Few changes took place at the Oakland Coliseum over the years. The Raiders moved out of the coliseum in 1981, but when they moved back the coliseum changed dramitically. The coliseum remained an excellent place to watch a ballgame until 1995. As part of an agreement, when the Raiders moved back to Oakland, the coliseum was remodeled. All of the outfield bleachers were removed. In place of them, is a four-tier section of 22,000 seats and luxury suites. All of the orange seats were replaced by new green seats as well. 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. Attendance has continued to drop since the renovations, even with a team that has continued to improve. Currently, the A’s would like to have a new stadium built in the area.

     
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Name: Network Associates Coliseum 
Location: Oakland, CA
Tenants: Oakland A's (MLB), Oakland Raiders (NFL)
Capacity: 48,219 (MLB)
Surface:  Grass 
Construction Began: 1962
Opened: April 17, 1968 (MLB)
Cost: $25 Million
Dimensions: 330-L, 375-LC, 400-C, 375-RC, 330-R
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Seating Chart

Ballpark Photos

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