Alameda County supervisors voted unanimously yesterday to
accept complementary luxury box seats for Raider games, sparking
criticism from a group opposed to the $223M bond deal to bring
the team back to Oakland. Tara Shioya reports in this morning's
S.F. CHRONICLE that Taxpayers for a Vote on Raiders Deal
suggested "the ticket giveaway will only add to the appearance of
a sweetheart deal." Supervisor Gail Steele: "This is a perk, but
it is not a conflict of interest." Supervisors also have access
to a Coliseum box for a limited number of A's games and free
tickets to every A's game (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/30). Meanwhile,
Oakland Football Marketing Association officials said yesterday
they expect to sell the 2,000 remaining tickets for Sunday's
Raider opener verses San Diego by this afternoon, averting a
local television blackout (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 8/30).
BARGAIN HUNTING: In Tampa, Devil Rays Managing Partner
Vince Naimoli showed off private boxes for reservation-holders in
the ThunderDome last night. Naimoli noted that the cost of the
suites -- $40,000-125,000 per season -- is "relatively modest in
comparison to private suites in other professional sports" (Bill
Chastain, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 8/30).
