Sonic Fiber Powers Oakland Ballers' Community-Built Ballpark

OAKLAND, CA – May 18, 2026 – As the Oakland Ballers prepare for their 2026 season, the team is getting a significant technological upgrade that mirrors its own meteoric, community-fueled rise. Independent Bay Area internet provider Sonic announced today it will become the Official Internet Provider for the Ballers, deploying its high-speed fiber network throughout Raimondi Park. The partnership promises to transform the game-day experience, powering everything from critical back-office operations to new, accessible ways for fans to connect with their team.

This isn't just a standard sponsorship; it's a strategic alliance between two fiercely independent, local entities. The Ballers, born from a fan-led movement to keep professional baseball in Oakland, have become a symbol of the city's resilience. Sonic, a Santa Rosa-based ISP that has spent three decades competing against national giants, shares a similar underdog spirit. Together, they are wiring a historic Oakland park for the future of sports, ensuring the fan experience is as fast and reliable as the connection itself.

The Digital Backbone of a Modern Ballpark

Raimondi Park, a West Oakland institution with a history stretching back to the 1890s, was recently the focus of a $1.6 million privately funded renovation spearheaded by the Ballers. That physical transformation—which included new dugouts, a scoreboard, and expanded seating for 4,000 fans—is now being matched by a digital one.

Sonic's fiber installation will serve as the central nervous system for the entire venue. In an era where sports operations are heavily data-driven, reliable internet is non-negotiable. The new network will provide high-speed, symmetrical connectivity to the press box, allowing journalists and broadcasters to file stories and upload high-resolution video in real time, without the bottlenecks that plague traditional internet connections. Symmetrical speeds, where upload performance matches download speed, are critical in a live event environment that constantly sends out massive amounts of data, from broadcast feeds to media uploads.

"The modern baseball team runs on community, chaos, and fiber internet. We've already got the first two covered. Sonic is coming in strong on the third," said Paul Freedman, Co-Founder & CEO of the Oakland Ballers. "They're helping us power everything from free Friday night livestreams to the day-to-day heartbeat of Raimondi Park, and we're proud to partner with another independent Bay Area company that believes local still matters."

Inside the clubhouse, players and coaches will leverage the network for scouting reports, film review, and strategy sessions—activities that require fast and stable access to large data files. On the concourse, the fan experience will be streamlined, with ticketing, entry gates, and cashless vendor transactions all running on the robust fiber infrastructure, minimizing wait times and improving operational efficiency.

More Than a Team: A Community Movement

To understand the significance of this partnership, one must understand the story of the Oakland Ballers. The team was not created in a corporate boardroom but willed into existence by a passionate community reeling from the departure of the city's major league sports franchises. Formed by a fan-led movement that raised over $2 million, the Ballers made a simple, powerful promise: "For Oakland, by Oakland, forever Oakland."

In just two seasons, they have delivered spectacularly on that promise. The team captured the 2025 Pioneer Baseball League Championship, shattering the league's modern-era wins record with a 73-23 season. This victory brought Oakland its first professional baseball title in over three decades, cementing the Ballers' place in the city's heart. Their success has been built on a revolutionary model of fan engagement, including a fan ownership program that raised over $1 million and a board of directors that includes a fan-elected representative.

This deep community integration is what makes the partnership with Sonic feel so authentic. It’s not just a transaction but a collaboration that reinforces the values both organizations champion.

"The Ballers are doing something special in Oakland, and Sonic is proud to help power the experience at Raimondi Park," said Nathan Patrick, Sonic CEO. "From ticketing and vendors to press, clubhouse operations, and free livestreams for fans at home, the whole ballpark runs better with reliable fiber connectivity. This is exactly the kind of local partnership we love: practical, community-focused, and rooted in the Bay Area."

Bridging the Gap for Fans, On-Site and Online

The most immediate and visible benefits of the new fiber network will be felt directly by the fans. The partnership enables the launch of free Friday night YouTube livestreams for all Ballers home games. This initiative dramatically expands the team's reach, allowing fans who cannot make it to Raimondi Park to follow the action live, strengthening the bond between the team and its widespread community of supporters.

This commitment to accessibility is further underscored by Sonic's sponsorship of "$2 Tuesday," the Ballers' popular promotion offering general admission tickets for just two dollars at every Tuesday home game. By backing both digital access through free streams and physical access through affordable tickets, the partnership directly addresses the shared mission of keeping sports accessible and affordable for all Oakland residents and their families.

This dual approach acknowledges the modern reality of fandom, where engagement happens both in the stands and on screens. For a team built on community, ensuring no one is priced out or left out is paramount. The collaboration with Sonic provides the technological and financial backing to make that vision a reality, ensuring the next chapter of Oakland baseball is open to everyone.