Raiders Owner Mark Davis "remains committed to staying in Oakland," but "admitted that his mind has wandered toward other markets," according to Scott Bair of CSNBAYAREA.com. Davis on Sunday at the NFL owners meetings said, “We’re not done in Oakland. We’re trying really hard, and we’ll see how that goes. But Los Angeles is something that I’ve definitely thought about and haven’t pursued. There are other places as well. Until we can find out if Oakland is real, then I’m still staying in Oakland. If we can get something done in Oakland, I will stay in Oakland.” Davis brought up the Coliseum City proposal, the "latest attempt to bring new facilities to East Bay teams, as the latest source of light." Davis: "If in fact that can come to fruition, we’ll be a part of that. If not, then we have to figure out what to do. What we’ve done is sign a one-year extension to our lease and we’ll play (at the Oakland Coliseum) this season. At the end of this season, we have to determine what’s going to happen.” Meanwhile, Davis "lauded the commitment of his fans, but subtly acknowledged that they aren’t limited to the Bay Area" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 3/23). Davis said, "We can't continue to play on a baseball field. We just can't do it. We can't continually be pushed, pushed, pushed. 'We're going to try this, we're going to try that…' The group that they have in there now is credible to me. If they want to get something done, they can. But they have to work with the city." In L.A., Sam Farmer notes NFL owners yesterday voted to "approve a one-year extension of the Raiders' lease at the Coliseum." Davis said that he has "met over the years" with Majestic Realty Chair & CEO Ed Roski and AEG Chair Phil Anschutz. Like his late father, Al Davis, he "also touted the Hollywood Park site" in Inglewood. Davis said, "That's probably the best place to put a stadium. If they use the racecourse land and everything else, it's absolutely the perfect place to do it" (L.A. TIMES, 3/25).
BLACK HOLE SUN: Davis said that the Raiders and A's "seem to be playing tug-of-war over the future of the Coliseum site and that it's almost impossible to see how both teams win." In San Jose, Tim Kawakami notes if the A's "get the 10-year lease extension they are seeking in lieu of a move to San Jose, the Raiders' push to get a new stadium built on the site in the Coliseum City project would be severely affected." Davis said, "That would make it tough for us to build a new stadium on that site" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/25).
