Raiders blast Oakland in bid to relocate to Los Angeles
PostPosted:9 years 5 months ago
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/raid ... cials.html
Raiders blast Oakland in bid to relocate to Los Angeles
HOUSTON – Oakland should not be an NFL city, the Raiders recently told top league officials and owners, maintaining during the relocation process that the future of the market for both the franchise and the league has been irrevocably damaged by Oakland and Alameda County politicians, the Orange County Register has learned.
While praising the team’s fan base, Raiders officials in recent days told NFL officials and owners that city and county officials intentionally stalled in negotiations, admitted to acting in bad faith, making false promises and lying.
The political practices and lack of support by local officials, Raiders officials told the NFL, have left the team in a stadium in disrepair, last in the league in key financial categories and Oakland no longer a viable NFL market.
Arguing that no NFL team could exist in Oakland in the current market and political climate, the Raiders are asking the league’s owners to approve their relocation with the Chargers to a $1.75 billion stadium in Carson.
The league’s owners are expected to vote on whether the Rams or Chargers and Raiders can relocate to Los Angeles for the 2016 season during a special meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in Houston. Under NFL guidelines, franchises need the approval of three-quarters of the league’s 32 owners to relocate.
The Rams want to move from St. Louis to a $2.66 billion stadium in Inglewood. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has also submitted a proposal calling for the Rams and Chargers be approved to relocate to Inglewood. Chargers owner Dean Spanos has said repeatedly that he has no interest in moving to Inglewood.
Oakland city and Alameda County officials sent a letter to the NFL on Dec. 29 offering a series of concepts but no formal proposal for a new stadium.
Alameda County spokesman Shawn Wilson said the county had no comment. City officials did not respond to requests for comment.
While Raiders officials in relocation documents and meetings with NFL staff and committees have praised the support and loyalty of their fans, the team has portrayed local government officials in a much less flattering light.
Raiders officials said the team has negotiated in good faith with the city and county for eight years, offered to contribute $500 million to a new stadium in the East Bay and signed three lease extensions for O.co Coliseum with the intention reaching a deal on a new stadium.
But officials from the city and county, which jointly operate O.co Coliseum, the Raiders charge, have reneged on promises and refused to make any significant contribution to a new stadium. The city has admitted, the Raiders said, to lying to the franchise. In 2012, the city and county entered into a series of exclusive negotiating agreements with different real estate developers and consultants. None of the groups presented plans that the Raiders or county and city viewed as viable.
In particular, the Raiders said the city and county reneged on a written proposal to contribute nearly 170 acres and $100 million in infrastructure to the new stadium project.
The franchise is also hindered, Raiders officials said, by lease that makes the club the “secondary tenant” to Major League Baseball’s Athletics at the stadium. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has told the league’s owners that the Raiders’ stadium lease gives the Athletics or the stadium authority some game day revenues that typically go to NFL teams in other markets. The Raiders’ lease could run through 2024.
Detailing raw sewage backups and leaks at the stadium, deteriorating locker rooms and press areas and the absence of premium amenities found in most NFL stadiums, the Raiders described O.co as the “worst, most inadequate facility in the league.” At times, there have been leakage problems and collapsing ceiling tiles in the locker rooms and luxury suites.
The Raiders have ranked last in the NFL in for net local revenue for five consecutive seasons up to 2014. During the 2014 season, the Raiders generated just 45 percent of the league’s average local revenue. The franchise also ranked last in the NFL in average gross tickets price based on paid attendance from 2011 through the 2014 season.
Oakland ranked last in season tickets sold from 2010 to 2013, selling packages at just 21.8 percent of the league average. A move by the team to slash ticket prices saw a slight improvement in sales in 2014, the Raiders ranking 30th at 38.1 percent of the league-wide average.
The Raiders have acknowledged concerns about the game day environment at their home games to league officials but have told the league they are taking steps to address the issue.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Raiders blast Oakland in bid to relocate to Los Angeles
HOUSTON – Oakland should not be an NFL city, the Raiders recently told top league officials and owners, maintaining during the relocation process that the future of the market for both the franchise and the league has been irrevocably damaged by Oakland and Alameda County politicians, the Orange County Register has learned.
While praising the team’s fan base, Raiders officials in recent days told NFL officials and owners that city and county officials intentionally stalled in negotiations, admitted to acting in bad faith, making false promises and lying.
The political practices and lack of support by local officials, Raiders officials told the NFL, have left the team in a stadium in disrepair, last in the league in key financial categories and Oakland no longer a viable NFL market.
Arguing that no NFL team could exist in Oakland in the current market and political climate, the Raiders are asking the league’s owners to approve their relocation with the Chargers to a $1.75 billion stadium in Carson.
The league’s owners are expected to vote on whether the Rams or Chargers and Raiders can relocate to Los Angeles for the 2016 season during a special meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in Houston. Under NFL guidelines, franchises need the approval of three-quarters of the league’s 32 owners to relocate.
The Rams want to move from St. Louis to a $2.66 billion stadium in Inglewood. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has also submitted a proposal calling for the Rams and Chargers be approved to relocate to Inglewood. Chargers owner Dean Spanos has said repeatedly that he has no interest in moving to Inglewood.
Oakland city and Alameda County officials sent a letter to the NFL on Dec. 29 offering a series of concepts but no formal proposal for a new stadium.
Alameda County spokesman Shawn Wilson said the county had no comment. City officials did not respond to requests for comment.
While Raiders officials in relocation documents and meetings with NFL staff and committees have praised the support and loyalty of their fans, the team has portrayed local government officials in a much less flattering light.
Raiders officials said the team has negotiated in good faith with the city and county for eight years, offered to contribute $500 million to a new stadium in the East Bay and signed three lease extensions for O.co Coliseum with the intention reaching a deal on a new stadium.
But officials from the city and county, which jointly operate O.co Coliseum, the Raiders charge, have reneged on promises and refused to make any significant contribution to a new stadium. The city has admitted, the Raiders said, to lying to the franchise. In 2012, the city and county entered into a series of exclusive negotiating agreements with different real estate developers and consultants. None of the groups presented plans that the Raiders or county and city viewed as viable.
In particular, the Raiders said the city and county reneged on a written proposal to contribute nearly 170 acres and $100 million in infrastructure to the new stadium project.
The franchise is also hindered, Raiders officials said, by lease that makes the club the “secondary tenant” to Major League Baseball’s Athletics at the stadium. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has told the league’s owners that the Raiders’ stadium lease gives the Athletics or the stadium authority some game day revenues that typically go to NFL teams in other markets. The Raiders’ lease could run through 2024.
Detailing raw sewage backups and leaks at the stadium, deteriorating locker rooms and press areas and the absence of premium amenities found in most NFL stadiums, the Raiders described O.co as the “worst, most inadequate facility in the league.” At times, there have been leakage problems and collapsing ceiling tiles in the locker rooms and luxury suites.
The Raiders have ranked last in the NFL in for net local revenue for five consecutive seasons up to 2014. During the 2014 season, the Raiders generated just 45 percent of the league’s average local revenue. The franchise also ranked last in the NFL in average gross tickets price based on paid attendance from 2011 through the 2014 season.
Oakland ranked last in season tickets sold from 2010 to 2013, selling packages at just 21.8 percent of the league average. A move by the team to slash ticket prices saw a slight improvement in sales in 2014, the Raiders ranking 30th at 38.1 percent of the league-wide average.
The Raiders have acknowledged concerns about the game day environment at their home games to league officials but have told the league they are taking steps to address the issue.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
