Oakland Ballers fans are being given a unique opportunity to become part-owners of the Pioneer League baseball club. The team recently announced that they would be launching a crowdfunding campaign, allowing interested individuals to indicate their level of financial commitment. In approximately four weeks, the official crowdfunding period will open, giving fans the chance to purchase shares in the team.
The inspiration for this fan-investor initiative came from the successful crowdfunding effort of the Oakland Roots/Soul soccer club last summer, which raised close to $2 million. However, the Ballers are taking things a step further by offering fan-owners voting rights on important team decisions. According to co-founder Paul Freedman, this makes them the first professional sports team in the U.S. to offer fans the opportunity to buy voting shares.
Freedman believes that the relationship between sports teams and communities is deteriorating, and giving fans a say in how the team is run is the best way to address this issue. The team’s other co-founder, Bryan Carmel, emphasizes that having input from fan owners is essential to achieving the club’s goals. While specific details about voting rights cannot be disclosed at this stage due to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, Carmel explains that this involvement will be written into the team’s bylaws through a public offering.
The Ballers were established in response to the Oakland A’s decision to leave the city for Las Vegas. Both Freedman and Carmel, who grew up as A’s fans, wanted to preserve Oakland’s baseball history. They believe that the current economic model for professional sports in the U.S. is flawed, particularly as teams relocate and leave communities behind. By allowing fans to invest and have a say in decision-making, Freedman argues that teams can rebuild the relationship with their communities.
Since its launch, the Ballers have already made significant contributions to the local community. They donated $1.6 million to renovate Raimondi Park, which will serve as their home ballpark in 2024. The team’s close proximity to the fans in the 4,000-seat park allows for regular conversations about their desires and expectations. Carmel takes note of these conversations and aims to constantly improve the fan experience.
Currently, the Ballers’ average attendance is 1,712 fans per game. However, Carmel is optimistic that attendance will continue to grow as word spreads about the team and its community-focused approach. The team’s agreement with the city of Oakland to play at Raimondi Park is set for this season only, but discussions are underway to extend the agreement for several more years.
The Ballers have also been actively engaging with the community through various events. They recently honored Maybelle Blair, a former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and celebrated Kelsie Whitmore, the first woman to start a game in Pioneer League history. The team has even explored the possibility of playing a game at the Oakland Coliseum next season, although they were unable to do so this year due to objections from the A’s. However, with the Roots expected to become tenants of the Coliseum next year, there is hope that the Ballers will have the opportunity to showcase their talent in a larger venue.
Overall, the Ballers’ fan-investor initiative represents a new and innovative approach to sports ownership. By allowing fans to have a financial stake and voting rights in the team, they aim to rebuild the relationship between sports teams and their communities. Through their continued engagement with fans and contributions to the local community, the Ballers are demonstrating their commitment to creating a team that is truly built by Oakland.