What happened: Oakland Roots SC and the Port of Oakland entered an exploratory exclusive negotiating agreement covering the Howard Terminal site. The one-year pact carries a $50,000 initial payment and gives the sides time to test whether a permanent stadium project can work there.

Why it matters: The exclusivity period gives the club its clearest runway yet toward a long-term home while leaving any land sale and construction timeline unresolved. It also runs alongside a separate plan to stage matches at an 8,000-seat modular venue in Alameda for the next three to five years.

What to watch: Watch for feasibility findings, price and payment terms, and any board actions that move Howard Terminal beyond negotiations. The interim Alameda stadium plan is the nearer checkpoint for where matches would be played first.