Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
At the Socceroos’ World Cup training base in Alameda, there are reminders everywhere of the professional sports teams Oakland has lost.
On the drive down from Oakland, the Coliseum stadium looms over the horizon.
The old stadium was once home to the MLB’s Oakland A’s and NFL franchise Oakland Raiders, while NBA team Golden State Warriors were in the nearby arena.
Throughout the hallways of the Socceroos’ state of the art training centre, there are still Oakland Raiders logos, photos and art, in between fresh new Football Australia decals and slogans.
But that’s all that’s left.
Over the past few years, the Raiders, A’s and Warriors all departed, with billionaire owners wanting flash new stadiums that local government wouldn’t finance.
Those exits, with the Warriors in San Francisco but the Raiders and A’s headed to Las Vegas – the latter via Sacramento – were like death by a thousand cuts to a city with a proud sporting history.
But slowly, slowly, new shoots are growing in The Town.
The old facility and Coliseum are now home to two soccer teams: the Oakland Roots men’s team, who play in the second-tier USL Championship, and the Oakland Soul women’s team of the USL W League.
Weirdly, the San Francisco Unicorns cricket franchise, home to several Australians – occasionally including Test captain Pat Cummins – also play at the Coliseum.
For at least the next month, the Socceroos will call the training facility home.
Former Olyroo and ex-Roots midfielder Panos Armenakas believes there couldn’t be a better match than the Socceroos and Oakland: a pair of underdogs with character and a point to prove.
“Oakland always feels like it’s an underdog, it’s an outcast,” Armenakas told AAP.
“So for them to feel that a nation taking part in the biggest sporting event in the world chose their city, chose their town – that, they’re very proud of.
“Australia would have plenty of options to choose different bases around the US. For them to choose Oakland. I think they’re going to feel very special about that, and take it on.
“Oakland’s a very, very proud and amazing sports town. They love their sports … they always get behind their team.
“It’s a bit sad to see that some of their sports teams end up leaving because of money.
“They’re a very proud city that love their team, and great sports culture, so I’m sure they’ll (the Socceroos) get the locals behind them for sure.”
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Panos Armenakas celebrates a goal when playing for Oakland Roots.
The Socceroos on Tuesday had their first day off since relocating to the Bay Area.
Australia will fly in and out of Vancouver and Seattle for games against Turkey and co-hosts the United States, while the third game against Paraguay in Santa Clara is a bus ride away.
Armenakas relished his time playing for the Roots and living in the area and hopes his countrymen take advantage of the California weather and explore Oakland and Berkeley.
The Sydneysider, who has bounced around Europe and the US and is now eyeing his first stint in the A-League, recalls seeing people in Roots jerseys on the streets and is sure the Socceroos will also feel the love.
“It was amazing to live there,” the 27-year-old said.
“In America, soccer isn’t known as the biggest sport, but it keeps growing year-on-year. Then on top of that, it’s a very diverse city with a lot of cultures.
“A lot of immigrants come to the Oakland area, whether it be Latinos or other cultures as well, and they love their football. So they bring in that passion with them and they embrace it straight away,
“I’m sure with Oakland being a base for Australia, if they’re not supporting the US or one of their home countries, wherever they may be, they’ll definitely get behind Australia.”
