With the recent news that Sheldon Adelson has backed out of the Raiders stadium plans in Las Vegas, and the subsequent appearance that Goldman Sachs is also out, the Raiders outlook for a move to Las Vegas is bleak.
But the Raiders continue to have Oakland reaching out to offer to work with them to keep the team. In that spirit, Ronnie Lott’s group Oakland Pro Football LLC put out a statement following the news of Adelson’s departure from the Vegas proposal.
“We stand ready to work with the team and NFL to keep the Raiders here at home,” said the Lott Group in a statement. “We have the land available at the existing Coliseum site following the actions of the City of Oakland and Alameda County last December. We have a strong financing partner in Fortress Investment Group. We have an additional $100 million due to the NFL incentive to keep the Raiders in Oakland. And of course, we have the best fans in the world right here in the heart of Raider Nation. Add to all that a diverse and fast growing community, a top 10 television market, and more Fortune 500 companies than any region in the western United States. Bottom line, if the Raiders want to stay in Oakland, we are more than ready to be a partner in making that happen.”
Up to this point, whenever a development has come from the Lott Group and the City of Oakland, Mark Davis has reaffirmed his commitment to Las Vegas. With his latest proposal to Vegas, it is not his commitment that may be wavering, but that of Nevada and the City of Las Vegas.
Not to mention, of course, the matter of actually being able to fund the move.
Lott is right to mention financial benefits to staying in Oakland among the virtues. They have the land, a less expensive stadium plan, the $100 million in added money from the league for denying them LA last year, and no relocation fee.
If Lott’s and the City’s olive branches are sincere, and Mark Davis agrees to finally return to the table in good faith negotiations, something can get done.
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