Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Raimondi Park
1689 20th St
Oakland, CA 94607
Year Opened: 1947 Capacity: 2,500
You Can’t Take Baseball out of Oakland
Baseball returns to Oakland via the B’s (Ballers) instead of the A’s (Athletics). After the announcement that the Oakland Athletics would be moving out of Oakland at the end of the 2024 season, two former Oaklanders decided to build a baseball team to create an identity that unites the citizens of Oakland. They envision the team and the stadium as a place to help heal the wounds of Oakland sports fans.
It’s a remarkable story to hear about the team’s management reaching out to the fan base for assistance finalizing the ballpark’s renovation to make it usable for opening day. Bringing the fans together and making them feel part of the team and organization helps the healing process.
Raimondi Park opened in 1910 as Bayview Park and renamed in 1947. It is dedicated to Ernie Raimondi, an Oakland native who played in the minors, who was killed in action in World War II.
A $1.6 million investment went into the current renovation of historic Raimondi Park. Crews built the stadium quickly (in two months or so). It works as a first-year minor league stadium with upgrades on the list for future years.
The Oakland Ballers are one of the newest independent Pioneer Baseball League members, beginning play in 2024.
Food & Beverage 3
The Oakland Ballers provide a decent choice of refreshments and an excellent choice of canned beers. Most concessions are behind the first base grandstand, with another small table behind the third base seats.
Traditional stadium fare is sold at the concession stands behind the first base grandstand. Hot dogs, bratwurst (including a vegan option), nachos, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, fries, and more sell in the $9 - $14 range.
Sodas are Coca-Cola brands. Beer choices are too numerous to list. A local brewery, Almanac, created a special beer called Ballers Love just for the team. It’s a hazy IPA and tastes pretty good. Beers generally run $12 a can.
Beer Choices at Raimondi Park, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
The venue has rotating food trucks located near the right field entrance. This area is probably your best bet for yummy food. Be sure to visit this spot before getting something from the traditional concession area.
Atmosphere 4
It’s a fun time at a Ballers game. With the game action, between-inning contests, Oakland 68s, and special themed nights, visitors will enjoy themselves.
Almost every home game is a special event night: Halloween in August, First Responders Night, BART Night, Rugby Night, Latino Heritage Night, etc.
The seats are built and placed above the field. It is similar to a temporary Formula 1 racetrack setup.
Premium reserved seats behind home are fold-down chairs with minimal width and legroom. The other reserved seats (behind the dugouts) and GA (general admission) seating are bleachers. A few sections in the GA areas are net-free. Yeah! The seating areas have handrails. Ramps and an ADA lift are available for those unable to climb steps. The first base side is more popular and has more seats.
The sun shines on fans on the third base side for the first few innings. The seating areas do not have shade, though most games are played in the evening. Bring sunscreen if it’s an afternoon game. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt for evening games, as it can get chilly when the sun sets.
The press box and dugouts are manufactured from old shipping containers, a nod to Oakland’s Seaport just a few miles away.
A new video board sits in right-center field. It displays the line score, home team player information, balls, strikes, and outs. It only shows the lineup for the Ballers, not the visiting team. A whiteboard with the starting lineup is something the organization is looking to do for next season.
Apartments are beyond right field; an ivy-covered brick warehouse is beyond left field. Fans can see the city of Oakland in the distance beyond the third baseline. The bullpens are adjacent to each other next to the right field foul pole.
Raimondi Park Bullpens, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
The gameday operations do a fantastic job at lowering the music volume when the PA announcer speaks. Thankfully, there’s minimal ‘noise’ between the pitches, so fans get to enjoy the game and the Oakland 68s drums and cheers.
Fun between-inning contests include a dizzy bat race, banshee boogie races, and more. Kids get to run the bases, and the players sign autographs after Sunday games. Good stuff and not overdone!
Neighborhood 3
There is not much to see and do within walking distance of Raimondi Park.
Kowbird is known for its spicy chicken sandwiches and is a block away. A few local Mexican restaurants are less than a half mile from the ballpark.
The best place for food, drinks, and entertainment in Oakland is Jack London Square, a little over two miles from the ballpark. Here you’ll find seafood restaurants (Scott’s Seafood and Seabreeze on the Dock), French cuisine (Left Bank Brasserie), American (Fat Lady Bar and Restaurant, Oakland Grill, Nation’s Giant Burgers and Pies), and much more.
Several delicious breweries are in Jack London Square: Line 51 Brewery (recommended), Oakland United Beerworks, Cellarmaker, and more.
There are no hotels near the ballpark. Downtown Oakland (two or so miles from Raimondi Park) has a Residence Inn, a Ramada, a Marriott, a Courtyard, and more.
Other sports to see when in town include the Oakland Roots (USLC), Oakland Soul (USLW), and the San Francisco Giants (MLB). Plenty of Pecos League baseball teams are within a 30-minute drive: San Rafael Pacifics, Martinez Sturgeon, Vallejo Seaweed, and the Dublin Leprechauns.
Fans 3
You have to admire Oakland sports fans, still showing up for sporting events after losing three of its major league professional teams in the last decade.
First are the Oakland 68s, a group of loyal Oakland sports fans who bang drums, wave flags and banners, and cheer all Oakland sports teams (kind of like soccer supporter groups). They visit Raimondi Park and embrace the Ballers as they did the Athletics.
The Oakland Ballers have the warmest, friendliest staff members who smile, make you feel welcome, and are willing to chat for a bit if desired.
The wonderful thing about the Oakland fans is the diversity and acceptance of other fans’ cultures and lifestyles.
Access 3
Raimondi Park is in West Oakland, not far off I-880. Free parking is on the streets surrounding the ballpark. The stadium has two lots that range from $8 - $20.
The team encourages fans to take the BART to the West Oakland station, and a shuttle will pick fans up. I tried this and waited more than 45 minutes for a shuttle, but it never arrived. Instead, I took the 29 bus, but it dropped me off in Timbuktu, and I had to hoof it back to the stadium anyway. Taking the BART is a fantastic idea, but I wouldn’t count on the shuttle. Maybe that’ll be an improvement for the 2025 season.
Uber and Lyft are plentiful in the neighborhood.
San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport is the closest commercial airport, 11 miles south of the ballpark.
The stadium has two entrances, one at 20th St and Willow St, the other on 18th St. Fans go through security first, then can purchase their tickets (no paper, they text you a link). A sign says clear bags only. I saw several fans with non-clear bags, so I’m unsure if it’s enforced. I’d recommend bringing your items in a 14” x 6” x 14” clear sports bag.
The venue has enough ramps for fans who can’t use stairs, and it has an ADA lift.
The restrooms are porta-potties, something I recommend looking at upgrading for future seasons.
Return on Investment 3
Ticket prices range from $12 - $35. These are on the high end for Pioneer League games.
Premium Reserved Seat ticket + fees: $35.00
Bleacher Reserved Seat ticket + fees: $28.00
General Admission Seat ticket + fees: $24.00
Ballers Bargain Bleacher ticket + fees: $18.00
Concession prices are about average. Fans can get free parking on the street (arrive early). Once the shuttle is working, taking the BART is an excellent, affordable choice.
The game day experience is fun and worth the sports dollar entertainment expense. The team has plenty of theme night games, so look those up when planning a trip to West Oakland.
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Extras 5
The Pioneer League and the Oakland Ballers are testing the ball-strike challenge, where the pitcher, catcher, or batter can question a ball or strike.
Kelsie Whitmore, a member of the Oakland Ballers, was the first female player to start a game in Pioneer League history in 2024. She did it at Raimondi Park.
The mascot, Scrappy, is a possum and is a tribute to the possums residing at the Oakland Coliseum.
The team has a ceremonial first batter instead of a first pitch.
The stadium has a mural for four baseball players whose roots are in Oakland: Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, Vada Pinson, and Ernie Raimondi.
Built By Oakland, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Final Thoughts
Attending an Oakland Ballers game at Raimondi Park is an inclusive, community-oriented event, perfect for the entire family. Kudos to the owners and team for developing a much more fan-based sports team to assist Oaklanders with the healing process of losing the Athletics.
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