Ronnie Lott Pens Op-Ed On His Efforts To Keep Raiders In Oakland

Pro Football HOFer Ronnie Lott, who is leading a development group for a new stadium in Oakland, writes an op-ed in today's EAST BAY TIMES under the header, "Why Keeping Raiders Is Vital To Oakland And Bay Area." He writes, "Oakland and the Raiders are synonymous with each other -- a compound word. That said, while the Raiders may be publicly loved, they are privately owned. We can’t make the Raiders stay. Instead, we must show them why they should stay." He adds that his group has partnered with Fortress Investment Group, which has the "capital and the experience" to execute the stadium project. He continues, "We understand the dissatisfaction involved with the last deal and the impacts it has had. That will not be repeated. ... We do not underestimate the challenges we have in front of us" (EAST BAY TIMES, 12/23).