The lease in Oakland is only part of the issue that Davis faces in relocating the Raiders, as he would still need 23 other owners’ votes to approve a move to a new city.
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San Antonio has always been linked to a possible Raiders move, and now Billy Joe “Red” McCombs, a former owner of the Vikings, as well as of the Spurs and Nuggets, is trying his darnedest to make that happen. “We want to help facilitate something that will keep them here in Oakland”, said Reid.
The Warriors are still seen as San Francisco-bound, but they must fend off lawsuits from the Mission Bay Alliance, a well-heeled group that doesn’t want the team’s new arena next door to the UC San Francisco Medical Center campus in Mission Bay.
McCombs told ESPN San Antonio that if Davis “does decide to go somewhere we want him to decide to come here”. The Raiders, who also wanted to move to the area, could move to Los Angeles if San Diego doesn’t. Jones would reportedly have a tough time blocking the Raiders from moving to San Antonio, especially after his proposal landed the Raiders as the odd team out this past week, according to Cole. Not only are they home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, but they also are proud to house the NBA’s Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Dallas Mavericks, the NHL’s Dallas Stars and MLB’s Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.
The St. Louis Rams are headed to Los Angeles next season, and the National Football League has given the San Diego Chargers approval to do the same.
They say in sports that it’s better to be lucky than good.
The Raiders franchise has been under the Davis family’s control since Mark’s father Al became the coach and general manager in 1963. “Texas is a big state, so I think we have space for multiple teams and multiple fan bases”, Cruz said.
The team could remain in Oakland, signing a new lease with the Coliseum or building a new stadium in the Bay Area.
As the theory goes, Davis has secured a parcel of land about halfway in between Austin and San Antonio – about 80 miles apart – where a new stadium could potentially be located, creating leverage in his dealings with Oakland. As of right now, the NFL’s relocation window is only open thru February 15.
Schaaf said Wednesday she understands the team’s frustration with stadium process, and hopes to fix that sentiment in coming weeks.
Still, it’s unclear whether the new approach is viable or whether Raiders owner Mark Davis, who has been increasingly critical of the mayor, will consider it.
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The Raiders could end up in L.A. with the Rams.
