Oracle Arena, Oakland, California

For over thirty- two years, Oakland, California has hosted the Oracle Arena. The arena was first known as the Oakland Coliseum Arena. In 1966 a coliseum and an indoor arena were constructed side by side to host sporting events and concerts. The first crowd to enter the coliseum was on September 8th, 1966 with the AFL's Oakland Raiders playing against the Kansas City Chiefs. The arena section did not open until a month later when the Oakland Seals played the San Diego Gulls in an NHL match. Over the years concerts, circuses, boxing, rodeos, religious events, and ice shows have been hosted in both buildings. The crowds have numbered in the 100 millions for some shows.

The Oracle Arena is considered the premier entertainment place for Northern California. In 1995 the Oakland Coliseum, renamed Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum, began a renovation with $120 million. The renovations added 22,000 new seats, luxury suites, and two private clubs and two new scoreboards. A year later the Oracle Arena began their own $100 million renovation. The entire inside of the arena was demolished to up the capacity to 19,200 seats, 72 luxury suites and three clubs. Both buildings are on 132 acres of land with 10,000 spaces for parking.

Parking ranges in price depending on the events and where visitors will park. Parking can be $17 to $30 or over based on the type of car. The box office is open Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. However, most visitors use Ticketmaster online to purchase event tickets. Public transportation will swing by the arena and coliseum for events and on normal days.

As with any arena there are a number of concession stands on site. Hot dogs, nachos, pizza, hamburgers, beer, and popcorn are just a few of the foods items one can purchase. The Oracle Arena also has two restaurants. Levy Restaurants offers club dining and catering for events. The menus are full course banquets for galas, business meetings and more. Aramark is the general concessionaire for the arena and coliseum.

Over the years the Oracle Arena has seen many different performers come through the site. Disney on Ice comes each year, as do hockey and other sporting events. Ringling Barnum and Bailey Circus will also make a stop at the Oracle Arena. Other artists at the arena have or will include Family Bridges, Billy Joel and Elton John, Super Six, Kiss, Eddie Izzard, Bruce Springsteen, and Janet Jackson.

My Chemical Romance, Queen, Coldplay, Keyshia Cole, T-Pain, Lil' Wayne, Plies, R. Kelly, Twista, Jay-Z, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Billy Idol, and Rage Against the Machine are also performers who have stopped at the Oracle Arena on their tours.

The Oakland Raiders still play their home games at the Arena and Coliseum. Each year visitors can purchase season tickets to local sporting events. The arena has prohibited items guests are not allowed to bring in such as alcoholic beverages, cans, backpacks, and other items like scooters.