Dec 8, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis on the field before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Much has been made of the Oakland Raiders battle with the City of Oakland and Mayor Jean Quan surrounding a proper facility being built for the Raiders with the finishing of their lease at the Oakland Coliseum. Owner Mark Davis has renewed their lease at the Coliseum (Or the O.co Coliseum for naming rights purposes) under good faith that a deal will get done, but while hope that a Coliseum City plan could solve the city’s problem in getting new homes for the A’s and Raiders built not much progress has been made.
According to local blogger Zennie Abraham the Raiders have significant cash prepared to get the deal done as Abraham reported in a YouTube video on Tuesday that he spoke with Davis who claimed that he has $400 million ready to put on the table in order to get a new deal done.
From Abraham’s blog post:
"Mark Davis Says Oakland Raiders Have $400 Million For Coliseum City StadiumI Just finished a lively talk with Oakland Raiders Owner Mark Davis, here at the NFL Spring League Meeting at The Ritz Carlton – Buckhead, in Atlanta. Mr. Davis says that the Raiders have $400 million to commit to a stadium but where is the other part?He asked me if I knew? “Don’t ask me,” he said, “ask them” as long-time Oakland Raiders assistant Marc Badain stood by, texting.In all there is no champion for the construction of a stadium in Oakland outside of Mark Davis. But he can’t do it alone."
If this recent report is factual that would put the money that Davis has been reported to have available for funding a new stadium construction at over the $300 million estimate that was reported a few months back. What that means is up for debate as the City of Oakland continues to drag its feet over funding any stadium building whether it be the Raiders or the A’s. Regardless of the real dollar amount Davis has in his pocket to get a stadium built it is very unlikely it could be built in Oakland without some sort of support from the city. Until that happens expect more and more of these back and forth reports to continue.