Frank Youell Field was a 22,000-seat football stadium built in 1962 at 900 Fallon Street in Oakland, California, right next to the channel connecting Lake Merritt to the Oakland Estuary. The city built it as a stopgap venue, at a cost of about $400,000, while the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum was under construction, and it became the first home field the Oakland Raiders ever had in their namesake city.
The stadium was named for Francis J. Youell, a local undertaker, Oakland city councilman, and sports booster who died in 1967. The Raiders played there for four American Football League seasons from 1962 through 1965, debuting with a 28-17 loss to the New York Titans on September 9, 1962, before moving into the new Coliseum in 1966. After the Raiders left, the field hosted local high school football games for a few more years.
- Las Vegas Raiders played here 1962–1965. See every Raiders stadium →
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Oakland Raiders (AFL, 1962–1965)
- Location: 900 Fallon Street, Oakland, California
- Opened: 1962
- Demolished: 1969
- Capacity: 22,000
- Construction cost: about $400,000
- Notable fact: Site is now part of Laney College’s campus
A Stopgap Stadium for a New Franchise
The City of Oakland broke ground on Frank Youell Field in 1961 specifically to give the fledgling Raiders a home while the much larger Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum took shape across town. The bare-bones, 22,000-seat facility was never meant to be permanent, but it gave the AFL franchise a true Oakland address after a nomadic start to the team’s early history.
Over four seasons the Raiders played out a formative stretch of franchise history on this modest field, closing out their tenure there in December 1965 with a 24-14 win over the Jets before relocating to the Coliseum in 1966.
From Football Field to College Parking Lot
Once the Raiders departed, Frank Youell Field kept a quieter second life hosting local high school football games. That use didn’t last long, and the city demolished the stadium in 1969.
Today the former stadium grounds sit within the campus of Laney College, repurposed largely for parking, with little physical trace left of the venue that once anchored Oakland’s entry into professional football.
Explore more: Explore more historic and modern stadiums.
For late-season football, outdoor hockey and October park nights. Shake, pocket, and stay warm for hours.
12 x 10.5 x 6 in. — built to the common stadium clear-bag size. Check your venue's rules.
USB-charged warmers for cold night games — no disposable packets.
Frank Youell Field FAQs
Where was Frank Youell Field located?
It stood at 900 Fallon Street in Oakland, California, beside the channel linking Lake Merritt to the Oakland Estuary, on land that is now part of Laney College.
What team played at Frank Youell Field?
The Oakland Raiders of the American Football League used it as their home stadium for four seasons, from 1962 through 1965.
Why was Frank Youell Field torn down?
It was always a temporary venue built while the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum was under construction. After the Raiders moved to the Coliseum in 1966, the stadium hosted high school games for a few years before being demolished in 1969 to make room for Laney College parking.
Get More from Frank Youell Field
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Frank Youell Field, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.