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Oakland Stadium Deal Takes a Step Forward

By Nick Hjeltness

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
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 /
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Oakland City Council voted in favor of the stadium proposal to take the next steps in the process, opening negotiations between the Ronnie Lott group and the Raiders.

Late Tuesday night, the Oakland City Council voted to move forward with the proposal to build a new stadium at the existing Coliseum site, which would keep the Raiders in Oakland. Earlier in the day, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors also approved the plan.

The proposal calls for a $1.3 billion in funds to build a 55,000 seat stadium, with the money coming from several different avenues. Mark Davis and the team would be asked to contribute $500 million, the Ronnie Lott Group would pitch-in $400 million, the NFL would add $300 million — a commitment they made when NFL Owners rejected the Raiders bid to relocate to Los Angeles — and the city of Oakland would contribute $200 million, which they say will not put taxpayer money at risk.

Those contributions total $1.4 billion, giving some breathing room on top of the estimated valuation.

There are plenty of hurdlers that remain, however. Such as the fact that Mark Davis has shown zero interest in negotiating with the Ronnie Lott group to get this deal done. Which is essentially what tonight was all about — giving the Lott group formal authority to negotiate directly with Davis.

Lott thinks it’s only a matter of time before Davis works with them.

"“I think we’ll get his blessing,” Lott told KGO-TV. “More important, it’s making sure we’re doing the right thing for the NFL,” he added."

But if the NFL believes this plan is viable, Mark will certainly have no choice but to take a seat at the negotiating table. The NFL may not feel that way about the proposal, though, at least according to Executive VP Eric Grubman.

"“I think the intentions are good,” Grubman told USA TODAY Sports at the league meetings Tuesday. “But I don’t think there’s been any progress that suggests a breakthrough anytime soon.”"

Grubman continued:

"“And I dare say if you pull up the descriptions of what the agreement was with Mr. Kephart when they entered into it and then the problems that ensued, it is a carbon copy of what they’re about to enter into today and the problems that are likely to ensue,” he said."

NFL Owners will meet again on Wednesday, and this will surely be a major topic of discussion. With Davis still pushing full steam ahead in Las Vegas, time is running out for Oakland, but the workings of an 11th hour deal have taken a step forward.

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