Bay Area

OPINION: AASEG Will Bring African American Ownership and Self-Determination to Coliseum

“What is not up for debate is the experience, financial wherewithal, dedication, and temperament of the AASEG. Win, lose or draw, their model of 100% African American ownership, equity, and self-determination is worthy of imitation by the entire African American community.”

Published

4 years ago

November 11, 2021

Oakland Post

The development model established by the AASEG utilizes Black investment dollars, and specifically, the largest African American investment bank in the country to fund their project.

Publisher’s note: Below is the text of a media statement from the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG), which was edited by Post staff.

On Juneteenth last year, the African American Sports & Entertainment Group (AASEG) held a press conference to announce bold and historic endeavor.

With the nation still reeling from the videotaped murder of George Floyd, the AASEG declared that the time was long overdue for African Americans to have equity and ownership of land, housing, and real estate within their communities.

The group then announced that they intended to purchase and develop the Oakland Coliseum site, in the heart of Oakland’s African American community.

It is a common fact that whenever African Americans assemble to do something noteworthy, especially in the realms of business and finance, their capabilities and experience are often called into question.

The AASEG has not been immune to these kinds of baseless and frankly, racist attacks. However, the evidence shows that one would be hard pressed to find another group more qualified to accomplish this historic endeavor than the AASEG.

“What is not up for debate is the experience, financial wherewithal, dedication, and temperament of the AASEG. Win, lose or draw, their model of 100% African American ownership, equity, and self-determination is worthy of imitation by the entire African American community.”

Introducing AASEG’s members

Alan Dones is one of Oakland’s most successful African American developers. He is the CEO and co-founder of SUDA, LLC, specializing in large-scale, innovative, public agency projects and mixed-use developments.

Dones has led development projects both in the United States and overseas. In addition, his company is currently spearheading multiple development projects throughout the City of Oakland at this very moment.

Robert C. Bobb is well-versed in municipal consulting and partnerships. He is the owner, president and CEO of The Robert Bobb Group, LLC (RBG), a multi-faceted private/public sector consulting firm.

Bobb is the former city manager of Oakland, former city administrator and deputy mayor for Wash., D.C., and served as the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security advisor. Bobb is also the founding president of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce.

In 2005, while serving as city administrator and deputy mayor in Wash., D.C., Bobb was primarily responsible for that city acquiring the 2019 World Series Champions, the Washington Nationals, and developing a new $1 billion ballpark there. City revenues based on the development have more than doubled since 2006, and the bonds will be completely paid off 11 years earlier than expected.

Bill Duffy is one of the country’s most successful African American sports agents. Among his clients are current NBA superstar Luka Doncic and the 2020 WNBA No. 1 overall pick, Sabrina Ionescu.

He was named to the ‘World’s Most Powerful Sports Agents 2019’ list by Forbes Magazine. Duffy has agreed to apply his extensive network and decades of experience toward execution of the AASEG project.

Loop Capital, LLC – Loop Capital is the largest African American owned, full services, global investment firm in the United States.

Loop Capital’s CEO, Jim Reynolds, is a frequently featured contributor on CNBC and a partner in JLC Infrastructure, a private asset manager with over $800 billion under its management. In addition, Jim Reynolds holds the prestigious distinction of being chosen by former President Barack Obama to personally oversee his entire campaign finance strategy for both of his presidential campaigns.

Loop Capital is also an experienced advisor on Public-Private Partnership and infrastructure transactions. And, relevant to the AASEG effort, Loop Capital has underwritten offerings for the cities of Oakland and San Francisco as well as Alameda County.

The Unique Strength of AASEG

After AASEG made their announcement on Juneteenth of 2020, several other developers came forth expressing their desire to submit competing proposals to purchase the Coliseum site.

It should be noted that almost all development projects in the country — even those with prominent African Americans involved — rely on capital and financing by white or non-Black funding sources.

That is not so with AASEG.

The development model established by the AASEG utilizes Black investment dollars, and specifically, the largest African American investment bank in the country to fund their project. To call this unprecedented would be an understatement.

Whether or not the AASEG ultimately gets approved to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the City of Oakland leading to the purchase and development of the Coliseum site is a decision that must be made by the Oakland City Council. History will be the ultimate judge of their decision.

However, what is not up for debate is the experience, financial wherewithal, dedication, and temperament of the AASEG. Win, lose or draw, their model of 100% African American ownership, equity, and self-determination is worthy of imitation by the entire African American community.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

4 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.