Fans can now own part of Oakland Roots and Soul soccer teams
LIVERMORE, CA - JULY 10: Oakland Roots Left Back Tarn Weir (17), second right, gestures as he being congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the first half of his USL Championship league soccer game against the visiting Las Vegas Lights
OAKLAND, Calif. - Ever wanted to be a sports team owner? Now you can. The Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club is inviting community members to invest and own a part of the team.
A community round will open for anyone 18 years or older to "directly participate in [the team] success."
"It’s part of the fabric. Part of what makes us, ‘us.’ It’s where we come together to celebrate the best of who we are. It’s how we tell our own story - and not how others define us. It’s jobs, opportunity, a stage, a dream. It’s how we plant our Roots, and nourish our Soul," Oakland Roots said in a statement.
The soccer club says it's creating this opportunity to keep a "promise" to the deserving community.
"The reason we like the crowdfunding model is it allows anyone to invest in the club, not just people who have enough money to become an accredited investor," said Edreece Arghandiwal, the co-founder & CMO of Oakland Roots – Oakland Soul.
"We’re doing this for Oakland. We are invested in this beautiful city, and we hope our fans invest in us," said Arghandiwal.
This announcement is welcome news for many Oakland sports fans. In recent years, the Raiders and Warriors moved away, and now the Oakland A’s are trying to work out a deal to move to Las Vegas.
"It’s a great, awesome, breath of fresh air, given everything that has happened sports-wise in Oakland," said Jorge Leon, the President of the Oakland 68’s. The Oakland 68’s is a non-profit support group that gives a voice to fans. You can find members banging drums and making noise at Roots games. Leon said he and believes this will be a successful campaign.
"I think this is an opportunity for fans to really buy into the team and support this club how it’s meant to be," said Leon.
There will be multiple tiers for fans to invest in the organization.
"The reason we like the crowdfunding model is it allows anyone to invest in the club, not just people who have enough money to become an accredited investor," said Edreece Arghandiwal, the co-founder & CMO of Oakland Roots – Oakland Soul.
Arghandiwal said the goal is to raise $2 million.
"We’re doing this for Oakland. We are invested in this beautiful city, and we hope our fans invest in us," said Arghandiwal.
This announcement is welcome news for many Oakland sports fans. In recent years, the Raiders and Warriors moved away, and now the Oakland A’s are trying to work out a deal to move to Las Vegas.
"It’s a great, awesome, breath of fresh air, given everything that has happened sports-wise in Oakland," said Jorge Leon, president of the Oakland 68’s.
The Oakland 68’s is a non-profit support group that gives a voice to fans. You can find members banging drums and making noise at Roots games. Leon said he believes this will be a successful campaign.
"I think this is an opportunity for fans to really buy into the team and support this club how it’s meant to be," said Leon.
"Sports Teams are a community asset and as a Purpose driven organization it was always on our minds, It was just a matter of when," said Tommy Hodul, senior vice president of Public Relations and Communications of the Oakland Roots and Sports Club.
Being a fan isn't required to be a part-owner to participate; just believing in their vision and mission.
For those who are interested in investing and participating in the community round, more information can be found here with more information to come out in the following months.