Oakland Raiders: The Clock is Ticking on a New Stadium Deal
By Kevin Saito
Following the recent bombshell dropped by the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers – the longtime AFC West rivals announced plans for a $1.7 billion dollar stadium that would house both teams – the football situation in Southern California suddenly got a lot more cloudy.
Of course, both cities are on the record as saying they are doing everything they can to keep their teams, but having gone through years of stalling and delay tactics already, on Sunday, the Raiders decided to put the pressure on.
According to Raiders beat writer Vic Tafur, Oakland has put a deadline on negotiations for a new stadium.
#Raiders stadium: Talks likely to end if no "significant progress" in 30 days http://t.co/H6p5o1VcPC
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) February 22, 2015
While Raiders owner Mark Davis has long made his preference to stay in Oakland crystal clear, it takes two to tango. Or in this case, it takes three – the Raiders, the city of Oakland, and Alameda County. And to this point, the city of Oakland and Alameda County have yet to take any definitive steps toward keeping the team.
Live Feed
SideLion Report
Said Oakland City Councilman Larry Reid this past Friday, “There’s a fire that needs to be lit under both the city of Oakland and the county.”
That sentiment is one that was echoed recently by Floyd Kephart – the man who was hand picked by both the city and county to be the head of the Coliseum City project, a venture that would build new stadiums for both the Raiders and the Oakland A’s and keep them both in town for the long term.
Kephart has said that officials with the city of Oakland have been very straightforward about the project, but he hasn’t gotten the same level of commitment, or even interest, from the county. He said it would be “tragic” if the Raiders left Oakland, but that it’s a real possibility of a deal isn’t done and done soon. Said Kephart:
"“Just come to the bloody table and make a reasonable and fair attempt to see if we can keep the Raiders, build a stadium and do this development.”"
The issue of course – as it always does – comes down to money. Specifically, how much money in tax payer dollars would be required to help fun a new stadium. The cost of a new stadium is pricey, with some estimates putting a new deal in Oakland somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 billion dollars.
Nov 3, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis on the sidelines before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
The complicating factor is that city and county tax dollars – to the tune of $20 million a year – are still going toward paying off the $100 million dollar debt still owed on the deal that brought the Raiders back to Oakland in 1995.
Many of the Oakland and Alameda County politicos have already checked in and there seems to be a growing sense of reluctance to using public funds to subsidize a new deal. Though Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf has said she would be willing to use public funds for “infrastructure” in and around the new stadiums – with some estimates putting her commitment in the $250-$300 million dollar range – the county is giving no such assurances.
One official with the Coliseum Authority, a task for run by both city and county, said, “My concern is that it could wind up being a shell game that will blow up the minute the public sees the details.”
County Supervisor Nate Miley said, “I lived through that once, and I don’t want to do it again.” And went on to say, “We want to make sure we protect the public’s dollars.”
While it’s understandable that our elected officials must be concerned with the way taxpayer dollars are being used, they should also be worried about the negative impact their actions – or inaction – may have on the area they represent.
Having pro sports teams like the Raiders, the A’s, and the Golden State Warriors in Oakland provides a huge influx of cash to the area. Not to mention the fact that it creates a lot of jobs as well. If the politicians decide to let one – or all – of these teams walk because they can’t agree on a deal, it could create a tremendous economic hardship across the city of Oakland, as well as throughout Alameda county.
More from Las Vegas Raiders News
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- Raiders: Bryan Edwards out, Henry Ruggs doubtful for Sunday
- Raiders: Damon Arnette re-injures thumb, could be headed to IR
- Raiders fall short in letdown Week 3 loss to the New England Patriots
- Raiders: Game breakdown and prediction for Week 3 at New England Patriots
This is not to say that Davis and the Raiders hold all of the cards, and the threat to leave should hold the city and/or county hostage. But it means that the city and county should be willing to work with the organization to keep the team in Oakland.
Let’s face facts – the O.co Coliseum is a pit. With its sewage backup issues, poor field conditions, and amenities that look they haven’t been updated since the stadium was built in the 1960’s, the Coliseum is by far, the most substandard stadium in the league.
It’s a financially complicated issue. And not everybody is on board with trying to get a deal done. Letting the Raiders walk though, would be a huge economic blow to the city and to the county. Davis has been patient, but has now let Oakland and Alameda officials know that his patience has its limits and they’ve just about been reached.
The clock is ticking.