Local officials are offering infrastructure improvements and 60 acres at the current O.co Coliseum site for a new Raiders stadium — a proposal that Oakland team leaders are already calling a nonstarter.
Today is the deadline for cities to submit stadium proposals to the league, complete with financing plans. But Oakland’s proposal from Mayor Libby Schaaf and Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty offers nothing new: while stressing the desirability of the Oakland market, it doesn’t offer any financing options, 60 acres of land for the stadium and 8,000 parking pots, and no public money past infrastructure improvements.
That proposal isn’t generating anything enthusiasm from Raiders owner Mark David, who lamented what he perceived as a lack of support from Oakland officials in keeping the team. From the Contra Costa Times:
With NFL owners meeting next month to potentially decide which teams get to move to Los Angeles, Schaaf said Tuesday that the league and Raiders fans “understand that Oakland does not have a big check to write.”
However, Raiders owner Mark Davis, who received a draft version of the letter, took it as a sign that the city wasn’t serious about reaching a deal.
“They just don’t want to play with us,” he said early Tuesday. “I don’t know why. I don’t understand it.”
Compare this offer to the 400-page proposal from St. Louis for a $1.1-billion stadium and San Diego’s offer of $350 million toward a new Chargers stadium, subject to voter approval.
Part of the issue in Oakland: city and county officials are working to retain both the Raiders and the Oakland Athletics, preferably at the same 120-acre Coliseum site (although Oakland officials are pitching the A’s on alternatives to the Coliseum area — a pitch that’s not generating much enthusiasm from all involved). Part of the issue is the lack of data as to what a two-stadium Coliseum site would look like. Adding to the uncertainty: the move of the Golden State Warriors (NBA) to a Mission Valley arena, something that’s not quite a done deal. It would be easier for all to visualize a two-stadium complex if there was some sort of conceptual plan showing two facilities and the number of parking spots available.
The NFL is expected to take up the issue of Los Angeles relocation and new facilities during Jan. 12-13 meetings.