Closing of Oakland’s Athletic Club: A Last Game

The Athletic Club in Oakland has closed its doors after eight years of serving fans and friends. The final day coincided with the Super Bowl, adding a bittersweet note to its farewell. A post on Instagram announced the closure and thanked patrons for their support. Co‑owner Miles Palliser expressed regret that they could not keep the business alive, noting that previous ventures had also shut down. The bar was launched in 2018 by Palliser and Ezra Berman, originally as a sibling to the San Francisco Athletic Club that closed last summer after eleven years. Both locations struggled during and after the pandemic, a challenge highlighted in their announcements.The Oakland spot was known for its lively atmosphere: beer, wings, and waffle fries were staples, and the venue often set up AstroTurf and TVs outside to host crowds during major games. The loss of local teams—the Raiders, Warriors, and A’s—has hurt sports bars in the area. In an attempt to revive the business, the club ran a crowdfunding campaign last year to remodel its kitchen and menu ahead of February’s Super Bowl and March Madness, but the effort fell short. Palliser hinted that discussions are underway with a potential new operator who might reopen the venue while preserving its spirited “Athletic Club” vibe. Until then, the team thanked everyone for the fun moments shared on the screens and left a hopeful note about future possibilities.