• Partner with Ballers, Roots, and Soul to vend, sample, and sponsor—start relationship building now before new stadiums break ground.
• Create the event you wish existed: Center your product or service in a local event that showcases your business.
• Partner with local youth-sports tournaments: Approach local tournament directors with ideas of value for them and their participants. 

We dive deep into the departure of the A’s—and how Oakland entrepreneurs can monetize from it. There is lots to unpack here. Rather than mourning what’s gone, we flip the narrative, unpacking why this moment might be the biggest business opportunity Oakland’s small-business community has seen in years.

We explore how the city’s remaining teams—the Oakland Ballers, Oakland Roots, and Oakland Soul—are building a new kind of sports culture: one rooted in community, accessibility, and local partnerships. If you’re a food vendor, creative, retailer, or service provider, these organizations represent open doors—not closed gates. We break down exactly how to approach these teams, what kinds of offers work, and why showing up with value first is the key to lasting partnerships.

But this episode doesn’t stop at sports. We explore how festivals, block parties, and youth sports weekends can become revenue engines for local brands. From creating your own mini-event to designing family-friendly offers during tournament weekends, we provide actionable, step-by-step tactics you can implement today.

Ultimately, this episode isn’t about losing a team—it’s about gaining perspective. By the end, you’ll see how Oakland’s business owners can lead the next era of “game day,” built not around stadiums, but around community energy, creative collaboration, and a shared commitment to keeping dollars circulating locally. If you’re ready to stop waiting for opportunity and start creating it, this is the playbook you didn’t know you needed.

Stick around until the end where we talk about the importance of being proactive: show up with value, give to get.