Draft:African American Sports & Entertainment Group

The African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) was founded in 2020 by Brien Dixon and Ray Bobbitt with the mission to leverage sports and entertainment as tools for economic empowerment within African American communities. Headquartered in Oakland, California, AASEG aims to drive community development and foster economic equity through strategic projects and partnerships.

Key Initiatives
AASEG, backed by Loop Capital, is most notably associated with its ambitious project to redevelop the Oakland Coliseum site. The group initially sent a letter to the Oakland A's owner, John Fisher, to buy the Oakland A's 50% share of the Coliseum. The offer was initially rejected by the team until the Oakland A's relocated to Las Vegas. In early 2024, the City of Oakland agreed to sell its 50% stake in the Coliseum to AASEG for $105 million "beating out another group led by MLB Hall of Famer Dave Stewart and his wife, sports agent Lonnie Murray." This transaction represents the largest transfer of public land to an African American-owned business in Oakland's history.

The proposed extensive redevelopment of the Oakland Coliseum site is AASEG's flagship project. The ambitious $5 billion plan includes building affordable housing, with a substantial portion designated for low-income residents. The group plans to construct a convention center and hotels on the site to attract tourism and business. The development will also feature retail spaces and a "restaurant row" that showcases Black-owned businesses. Additionally, the project aims to establish sports facilities to attract NFL and WNBA teams, alongside cultural amenities like museums and community centers​.

Members
Members of AASEG includes:


 * Ray Bobbitt, an East Oakland native, veteran and owner of a consulting firm leading the initiative.
 * Robert Bobb, former Oakland City Manager.
 * Alan Dones, an Oakland developer.
 * Shonda Scott, former chair of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce.
 * Bill Duffy, a former NBA player and sports agent.
 * Loop Capital, an African American-owned investment firm.
 * LaNiece Jones, entrepreneur, higher education and equity advocate.
 * Samantha Wise, entrepreneur, mentor, and community activist.
 * John Jones III, community advocate and activist.
 * Jonathan Jones, entrepreneur and business owner.
 * Joan Tarika Lewis, visual artist, musician, author, political activist.
 * Jade Smith-Williams, corporate attorney.