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Goodell Will Not Rule Out Oakland

O.Co Coliseum, Oracle Arena

Although the odds of keeping the Oakland Raiders are seemingly against the city, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will not rule the possibility of the Raiders staying in Oakland. 

A committee studying a proposed $1.9 billion stadium project for the Raiders in Las Vegas recently recommended the concept to Nevada governor Brian Sandoval. As is proposed, the stadium would receive $750 million and public funds which, according to Raiders owner Mark Davis, will be enough to entice the team for him to seek the NFL’s permission to relocate to Las Vegas.

The progress of that project has raised further questions about the probability of the team remaining in Oakland, which has not committed public funds to a stadium. While the Raiders are in a position to leave Oakland and the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum for a second time, Goodell recently expressed some faith in the city in a quote that has been relayed by the San Jose Mercury News:

“No market should lose their team once, let alone twice,” Goodell said according to a Twitter post from St. Paul  Pioneer-Press reporter Brian Murphy. “I believe there’s a solution in Oakland ”

When the Los Angeles Rams played their home opener Sunday, it was proof that a market could lose a team twice. The St. Louis Rams lost the Cardinals to Arizona and then the Rams to Los Angeles.

One solution that has been discussed in Oakland involves development of the land surrounding the Coliseum. A private investor group that includes Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott would purchase that property, and build a football-only stadium that includes the Raiders. As was noted here recently, that proposal could wind up giving the Raiders exclusive use of that site, as the Golden State Warriors are looking to vacate Oracle Arena in favor of a new venue in San Francisco and the A’s are discussing other locations for a new ballpark with Oakland officials.

Right now the Las Vegas proposal hinges on Sandoval and state legislators approving a 0.88% hotel tax increase in Clark County to cover the $750 million contribution. Developers in the project, including the Raiders, have called on Sandoval and the legislators to hold a special session on the issue, but no commitment has been made by the state.

RELATED STORIES: Oakland Raiders Have Multiple Options for StadiumOakland, Alameda County to Discuss Coliseum Land Sale with Ronnie Lott Group

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