AEG is "still in the lead to win the O.co Coliseum management contract” after a second round of voting by the Joint Powers Authority that governs the complex, according to Angela Woodall of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. The JPA yesterday "again voted to allow sports consultant Barrett Sports Group to negotiate a contract on behalf of the Coliseum authority with AEG." While the original April 20 vote on the contract was 4-3 "to move forward with negotiations" with AEG, yesterday's featured just one vote against. Woodall notes SMG remains "the incumbent Coliseum operator." SMG lawyers "threatened legal action if commissioners did not withdraw their April 20 decision." Yesterday's meeting included a summary of a financial analysis provided by Dan Barrett's firm of the competing proposals." The bids "had their advantages and trade-offs," but AEG "appeared to be the strongest candidate financially." If Barrett Sports Group and AEG succeed in negotiating a contract that the Coliseum authority approves, AEG "will sign a no-poaching clause that would prevent it from trying to relocate the Raiders to Los Angeles, where the company is building an NFL stadium." Coliseum Authority Counsel Deena McClain said that the contract provision "could not keep the Raiders from leaving Oakland, ... but it would prevent AEG from taking them to Los Angeles" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 5/15). O.co Coliseum would be AEG Facilities’ first MLB or NFL account (THE DAILY).
