Oakland Raiders future could be decided in August
By Chase Ruttig
Nov 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders fans tailgate while holding signs the read “Stay in Oakland” before the NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The future of the Oakland Raiders when it comes to what city they will call home in the future could be made in August as the NFL holds its owners only meeting on the topic on August 11. A date that could potentially live in infamy as the league’s 32 owners will make progress on which teams could potentially enter the Los Angeles market in a three team race to move to the second largest market in the United States.
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Floyd Kephart, the man brought in to potentially save the Raiders in Oakland, believes that a decision could be made at the NFL’s August 11 meeting. Kephart looking to the end of August as a potential timeframe in which the league could decide on if the Raiders stay or leave, along with the other two teams in the San Diego Chargers and the St. Louis Rams who both are also looking at making moves to the city along with Oakland owner Mark Davis.
A frustrated Kephart also said he doesn’t know who is more frustrated at this point, the fans in Oakland or his group trying to save the team in the city where the franchise has called home for much of its storied history in both the NFL and the AFL according to the San Antonio Business Journal.
From the San Antonio Business Journal:
"While the back-and-forth exchange of information in Oakland plays out, the clock continues to tick. And frustrations continue to escalate as NFL owners are expected to meet on Aug. 11 to discuss the potential relocation of the Raiders, San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles.The Raiders have also held discussions with San Antonio leaders about the possibility of relocating to the Alamo City, if the team is unable to secure a new stadium in Oakland.Kephart said at this point he has no idea what the future holds for the Raiders in Oakland.“I am not sure who is the most frustrated at this point — the Raiders, the NFL, the fans or us,” Kephart told me.The Raiders’ future in Oakland could become more clear in a matter of weeks.“I expect the Raiders, NFL and New City will all make a decision about continuing in Oakland by the end of August,” said Kephart, who stepped in roughly nine months ago to help salvage the Coliseum City plan and keep the Raiders in the Bay Area."
It makes sense that the NFL would want to make an official decision on the Los Angeles storyline before the season to avoid it being a distraction hanging over three franchises and their fanbases. Making a decision before Week 1 gives the teams that do move a chance to have a farewell season as well, something that the cities involved deserve at the very least. Regardless of what happens, 2015 is likely the last year at the legendary Oakland Coliseum even if the Raiders stay in Oakland. Next month could be crucial to the future of the franchise as we all wait and see if the team stays or goes away from the Bay Area for the second straight time in their history.