The financially troubled Oakland Roots soccer club returned to the pitch at the Oakland Coliseum under a new “pay or don’t play” agreement with the Coliseum’s board of directors. The club managed to pay a $173,000 fee to cover rent and operating costs for their matchup against the Pittsbu rgh Riverhounds Soccer Club, but the team still owes about $1.4 million in back rent. To keep the season alive, the club must continue paying a six-figure rent and operating fee upfront before each remaining home game while searching for a long-term home. The financial strain is largely driven by dwindling attendance, which has drained much-needed revenue. Securities and Exchange Commission investor disclosures show continued operating losses for the club. Home game attendance is significantly down this season, averaging 5,000 fans per match, leaving the team needing to fill more seats to start paying the bills. Only about 5,300 fans attended the game against the Riverhounds. It is a stark contrast to a year ago. At the 2025 home opener, the Roots set a USL Championship league attendance record with more than 26,000 seats filled. “It was fun,” said Paddy Iyer of Fremont, recalling the record-breaking match. Jeff Frix, an Oakland Roots fan, shared a similar sentiment. “That night was amazing. That was electric. E-40 was there. I mean everybody in this place was on fire. That’s what we need,” Frix said. Despite the lower turnout this season, Frix believes the fanbase remains dedicated. “I still think fans are coming out. They’re really supporting the Roots,” he said. “It happens in business. It happens all the time. We’re here to support them,” added fan Cabrel Ngounou. However, the possibility of losing another sports franchise looms heavily over the city. “People have to get their acts together,” Iyer said. “We don’t want to lose any more teams from Oakland.” ...read more read less