Raiders Owner Mark Davis, heading into his second full season at the helm, said it is "disappointing that I’m spending my time on stadium issues, trying to get that going and (dealing with) the football team," according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. Davis said, "I see that it’s really hard to do both. You know, you want to focus on one thing and really spend a lot of time and yet you’re off running the meetings on this and that and all of that, so that’s the (frustrating) part for me. And if we can get the stadium situation finalized, then that will give me a lot more time to really see if I can help on the other side." He added of the stadium issue and his desire to build at the site of O.co Coliseum, "Oakland is absolutely where we would prefer to get something done. And it would be on that specific site. There’s definitely issues that go along with that. ... There’s still some big, big questions that we have to get answered by both sides. Both sides are trying. Whether there’s a sense of urgency or not? I know there is on our side. We have to find out how urgent on their side." Davis: "I’ve come to the conclusion that a 53,000-seat stadium, that we played in from the 60’s and all that, is basically what our market is. ... For us the 53,000–seat stadium is good and maybe 5,000 club seats bring it up to 58,000 seats. But in all those years, I think when we moved back (to Oakland) we overbuilt the market, so to speak." Davis said the possibility of sharing Levi's Stadium with the 49ers is "out of the picture." He added, "I want the Raiders to have something that’s a legacy to my father and to the Raider brand. If in fact we’re able to get a stadium built, it will probably be the last one of my lifetime."
HOMETOWN KNOWLEDGE: Davis said of the search for a team president to replace former Chief Exec Amy Trask, "I’ve been talking to people ... but I’m leery to do anything before a stadium situation is figured out because I look at it as whoever’s going to be running the business and that’s the revenue side of it, it’s pretty much site-specific in my mind. ... But I think for somebody to deal with corporations in the Bay Area, that’s one person that’s been in the Bay Area for a long time, who knows how to do that. The other teams in the Bay Area have people that have done that very well. So you’d be looking for somebody that knows the Bay Area." He added, "I believe (finance officer) Marc Badain is doing a great job right now, carrying on ... he’s done a phenomenal job" (ESPN.com, 9/7).
HEADING SOUTH? Fox' Terry Bradshaw said of the Raiders, "I don't think they will stay in Oakland, I think they have to move that franchise. I think they've got to go back to Los Angeles." Fox' Curt Menefee added, "I don't know if L.A. wants them right now, that's the question. You've got to get a stadium before you move." Fox' Howie Long: "I think L.A. wants somebody, anyone" ("Fox NFL Sunday," 9/8).
A PLACE TO CALL THEIR OWN: In Oakland, Matthew Artz cited team officials as saying that the Raiders "want to build a football-only stadium at the exact location of the current Coliseum." That would "leave the A's with no home field -- not that the A's, who are still eager to move to San Jose, would mind." A's Owner Lew Wolff said, "We would not inhibit someone from building a brand-new football stadium if that is what they want to do." City and county leaders have "been surprised by the Raiders' stadium site preference and its potential to push the A's out of town." A football-only Raiders stadium "also might not pencil out in Oakland" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 9/8).
