Frank Youell Field, former football stadium in Oakland, California
Frank Youell Field was a compact stadium in Oakland built in 1961 and opened in 1962, holding approximately 22,000 spectators on a natural grass surface. Located at 900 Fallon Street beside a waterway linking Lake Merritt to the Oakland Estuary, this straightforward facility served as a temporary home for professional sports.
Built in 1961-1962, the stadium served as home for the Oakland Raiders from 1962 to 1965 before the team relocated to the newly constructed Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The site had previously housed a World War II-era housing project before being cleared and converted for sports use.
The field bore the name of Frank Youell, a city councilman and businessman who championed bringing the team to Oakland. The close proximity between spectators and players on the field created a sense of community where fans felt directly connected to the games and their team.
The site sat conveniently near Lake Merritt with easy access and ample parking for visitors. The modest scale of the facility created an intimate viewing experience where spectators sat close to the action happening on the field.
The stadium was so compact and accessible that spectators could sometimes walk onto the playing field after games had ended. The final regular-season game in December 1965 against the New York Jets was a legendary victory that crowned the Raiders' chapter at this location.
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