Raiders In Negotiations To Stay At Oakland Coliseum For 2019

Update:

Though Michael Gehlken reports that the Raiders and Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority have yet to resume negotiations, he mentions that an “important date” to keep an eye on is February 13, which is when Coliseum Authority “hopes to know” the Raiders’ interest in meeting. 

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Larry Beil of ABC7 reports that the Raiders are now in negotiations to stay at the Oakland Coliseum for the 2019 season after their plans to play at Oracle Park in San Francisco fell through. 

Earlier this week, Ian Rapoport reported that the 49ers would not waive their territorial rights over San Francisco, meaning the Raiders’ options were down to either remaining at the Oakland Coliseum or sharing Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. 

San Francisco mayor London Breed advocated against the Raiders using Oracle Park.

“As far as I’m concerned, the Oakland Raiders should play in Oakland … We don’t need another layer to add to what we already have — and that’s an area that’s really congested filled with construction and will host a number of basketball and baseball games over the coming months,” Breed said, via KTVU.

Despite their complications with finding a home for 2019, Raiders’ owner Mark Davis said he is not frustrated and added the NFL would like a decision “within a few weeks.”

“I’m not frustrated,” Davis said, via Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I’ve said from the beginning, my biggest concern is our fans, and it’s my hope and preference to remain in the Bay Area (in 2019) for them. The fans have always been first in my heart. We do have other options, but the hope is to remain in the Bay Area next season until we move to Las Vegas in 2020, which I remain very excited about.“

“The thing is, we haven’t been the ones talking at all,” Davis added. “Others have been talking for us and in some cases against us. I know the (league) would like this decided within a few weeks, and we certainly don’t want to be the ones that would cause a delay in scheduling.”

The Raiders have been trying to lock down a temporary home for the 2019 season and all recent reports mentioned that the team was likely to remain in the Bay Area.

Several temporary homes for the Raiders had been floated including San Diego, San Antonio, Reno and even London, but the easiest decision from a logistical standpoint is to find something in the Bay Area. 

With the City of Oakland’s ongoing lawsuit against the Raiders, Davis said remaining at the Coliseum is out of the question. However, it appears his options are even more limited than before. 

The NFL needs to have a location for all 32 teams in order to put together the full schedule for next season and Roger Goodell said last week that they were hoping for a resolution on the matter soon. 

The Raiders will officially move into their new stadium in Las Vegas for the 2020 season.