Oakland Coliseum to Host Nine Matches in MLC 2025

Oakland Coliseum, formerly the home of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics, has been confirmed as a host venue for nine Major League Cricket (MLC) matches in 2025. It will become the third stadium to stage MLC fixtures, joining Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas and Broward County Stadium in Florida, which hosted the league’s first two seasons.

Originally opened in 1966 and known for hosting both baseball and American football, the Coliseum will undergo modifications to accommodate cricket. These changes include reducing the seating capacity to 12,000 and installing drop-in pitches to meet international standards. The Athletics vacated the venue at the end of last season as the franchise prepares for a move to Las Vegas.

San Francisco Unicorns, runners-up in the 2024 season, are scheduled to play three home games at the Coliseum. "The Bay Area has a deep and growing love for cricket," said David White, CEO of the Unicorns. "This move gives us the opportunity to deliver an unforgettable match-day experience at one of the region’s most iconic venues."

The Coliseum had previously been considered for last year’s men’s T20 World Cup but was ultimately ruled out due to logistical constraints. The stadium also gained pop culture fame as a central location in the 2011 film Moneyball, which chronicled the Athletics’ data-driven rise in the early 2000s.

The 2025 MLC season will kick off at the Coliseum on June 12 with a rematch of the 2024 final between the San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom, coached by Ricky Ponting. MLC announced that the league’s presence in Oakland is expected to generate a $3 million direct economic impact for the city, marking the first time a West Coast venue will host elite-level cricket in the U.S.

“Bringing Major League Cricket to the Coliseum is a tremendous opportunity, and we're excited to see global cricket stars play in such a historic Californian venue,” said MLC CEO Johnny Grave. “This move to Oakland is a landmark moment for cricket’s growth in the U.S., and it underscores our mission to provide fans with world-class cricket experiences.”

MLC also confirmed earlier this year that its 2025 season will not clash with The Hundred in England, with the final set for July 12. Several marquee players, including Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran, and Heinrich Klaasen, will return for the upcoming season, although Pat Cummins will be unavailable due to Australia’s Test tour of the West Indies.

The league plans further expansion, with cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Toronto under consideration as future host venues.

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