Oakland Ballers chose historic ballpark as home field for inaugural spring 2024 season
(KRON) — The Oakland Ballers announced Thursday that they have chosen a historic Oakland ballpark for their home field. The team unveiled plans to invest $1.6 million into revitalizing Raimondi Park in West Oakland ahead of their inaugural 2024 spring season.
The ballpark holds a special significance in the history of Oakland baseball, having been a training ground for local legends like Frank Robinson and Curt Flood. The minor league Ballers said the park was always their first choice, given its “storied legacy.”
The ballers secured permission to host 48 home games at the park following approval from the Oakland Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission last month. The team has also established a field rental agreement to use the park with the City of Oakland.
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“As the Oakland Ballers, our mission has always been to revitalize Oakland’s ballparks,” said Bryan Carmel co-founder of the Oakland Ballers. “We are honored to be part of the next chapter of baseball at Raimondi Park and eagerly anticipate collaborating with the City and local residents to showcase the potential of our city.”
The $1.6 million slated to invest in revitalizing the park has been funded through private investments, the Ballers said. Upgrades to the park are intended to not only accommodate professional-level baseball, but also “transform the area into a premier venue for Oakland youth baseball and softball,” the team said.
The $1.6 million plan, the team said, will be presented as a Gift-In-Place for Oakland City Council to vote on.
Amenities to be added to the park include a video scoreboard, which will also be used for various community events including movie nights.
“I am a lifelong resident of Oakland and daughter of the esteemed ballplayer Ernie Raimondi, whose memory graces Raimondi Park. The park was renovated and rededicated in 2008, but now the opportunity has come along to further revitalize it for the neighborhood and for the entire city. On behalf of the Raimondi family, I would like to extend my support for the Oakland Ballers efforts to activate Raimondi Park as a site for their team, soon to be ‘our team’. Let’s unite to ensure Oakland thrives as the baseball town it has always been,” said Penny Raimondi Isola, daughter of Ernie Raimondi, namesake of Raimondi Park.
The Oakland Ballers will play 48 home games at the park. “The Raimondi Park community will have access to the field for the remaining 317 nights,” the team said.
The Oakland Ballers are slated to play their inaugural home game at Raimondi Park on Tuesday, June 4.
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