Two weeks into the 2016 NFL season, the focus should be on the field. However, for the Oakland Raiders, off-the-field issues have dominated the headlines as of late.
That trend continued yesterday when Stadium Real Estate Partners, LLC in association with The Integral Group, sent a letter to Oakland city officials that outlined their plans to buy the Oakland Coliseum — worth $26 million according to the San Francisco Chronicle — and either renovate it or build a new one, according to their attorney Martin J. Greenberg.
This announcement came on the heels of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to put the brakes on a potential move for the silver and black. For months, rumors of the Raiders moving to Las Vegas and San Antonio have circled the team, however, Goodell said team officials must seek a permanent solution in Oakland before they seriously pursue relocation.
According to Oakland city officials, the city rejected the offer from the group, led by NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, and will not pursue a deal with them. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said she did not recommend the proposal be submitted to but still entered into a 90-day negotiation period with the group earlier this month.
NFL Executive Vice President Eric Grubman was in the Bay Area earlier this week to visit with local leaders and discuss the future of the Raiders, according to Schaaf. Schaaf did confirm that Lott was at the meeting and Grubman also attended the home opener in Oakland, a 35-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 18.
Oakland is off to a great start this season after a 17-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday that has the silver and black 2-1.