Block party, sold-out stadium for new pro soccer team Oakland Roots
Oakland Roots Sports Club made its professional debut in a high-scoring historic game
by Isis Piccillo, co-editor/ Photos by Saskia Hatvany, co-editor
The harsh afternoon sun could not deter spirited fans who gathered on Saturday to celebrate the inaugural game of Oakland’s new professional soccer club. With Laney College as their designated home turf for the 2019 season, the Oakland Roots Sports Club might be the team “the Town” has been waiting for.
“I knew something like this will be manifested into reality,” said DeVante DuBose, an Oakland native and the first player drafted for the Roots.
“Now look. It’s only the beginning.”
DuBose mingled with his family at the free block party prior to kick-off, where fans clad in Roots jerseys crowded the music stage and lined up for food trucks and beer tents. Bishop O’Dowd graduate DuBose last played for Arizona team Phoenix Rising, but he said he always knew he would come back to play in Oakland professionally.
Oakland Roots SC has been in development for over three years. Co-founders Benno Nagel and Edreece Arghandiwal, along with investors, worked with a community advisory board to put down local roots. The team has partnered with local youth soccer clubs and with local clothing brand Oaklandish.
With the Raiders and the Golden State Warriors departing from Oakland, many in the crowd were excited to have a new team to support.
The Aug. 31 match-up against Orange County’s California United Strikers FC sold out the day prior, with game attendance exceeding 4,500.
Mary Campbell, DuBose’s mother, gestured to the packed crowds milling between the food and vendor tents.
“I hope that the city of Oakland is paying attention,” she said.
“We need this. We want this. [The Roots] are about the community.”
As part of their commitment to youth engagement, the Roots donated 150 tickets to Oakland Unified School District students and also partnered with East Bay youth soccer club Spurs FC for the game.
A group of Spurs FC players talked excitedly about the roles they were invited to play.
“I’m a ball kid,” said Mateo, meaning he would be standing on the sidelines with replacement soccer balls during the match.
His friends’ roles included anthem buddies, creating the pre-game high-five tunnel, and scrimmaging each other for the half-time entertainment.
Accompanying the young players was Rebecca Woiwode, who said the group had followed one of their favorite San Jose Earthquakes players, Víctor Bernárdez, to the Oakland Roots.
“We were season ticket holders for years, and we love the Quakes,” Woiwode said.
“But San Jose is a far way away.”
The Spurs FC players were also coached for a season by Roots defensive midfielder Niall Irwin. They hope to purchase his jersey in the future.
“They have really rockin’ jerseys, so we’re excited,” Woiwode said.
Fans poured into the stadium for the 7 p.m. kick-off. The Oakland Roots forward Jack McInerney scored three goals in the first half, giving him a hat-trick. Cal United Strikers Chris Klute retaliated in the added stoppage time right before the whistle, which left the halftime score at 3–1 for the Oakland Roots.
During halftime, Spurs FC youth players scrimmaged against each other on both sides of the field.
In the last ten minutes of the second half, Gustavo Villalobos and Christian Thierjung scored two more goals for the Strikers, ending the first game in Roots history with a tie.
Steven Aldrich, lead investor and Chairman of the Roots, took a big-picture approach.
“The result is the result,” he said.
“But honestly, from what we were trying to accomplish, we accomplished everything in terms of building a community for the future.”
