The Raiders this week moved into an 18,500-square-foot, high-performance center at their training facility in Alameda County "alongside the facility they've been using" since '96, and the club said that the entire construction process -- including city permits -- "was smooth," according to Ann Killion of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The process "took 100 days and included raising the outdoor fields 14 inches, installing drainage and turf to replace what was called 'the rock.'” The facility is the "brainchild of head strength and conditioning coach Joe Gomes." Coach Jack Del Rio hired Gomes, who spent a decade working in athletic training, in January to "improve the Raiders’ outdated operation." Del Rio convinced Owner Mark Davis "it was mandatory." The building, which "can house the entire team, is filled with weight racks" and other equipment (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/27). Last night’s edition of CSN Bay Area’s “Sports Talk Live” featured a special “State of the Raiders” broadcast which included host Jim Kozimor noting the Raiders are “upgrading all over," including the new performance center. Kozimor said, “The Raiders are ready to move into the 21st century. It took them some time, but they are there and they are ready turn the corner" (“Sports Talk Live,” CSN Bay Area, 8/26).
CALIFORNIA LOVE: CBS Sports Network's Jason La Canfora said of the Raiders, Chargers and Rams vying for relocation to L.A., "If it becomes a flat-out popularity contest at the end, which it might be, don’t rule out (Chargers Chair) Dean Spanos. He’s done a lot of things for a lot of people over the years. If he and (former NFL exec) Carmen Policy call in some favors from powerful owners, I can see the vote going that way.” CBSSN’s Amy Trask said, “I would not be altogether surprised if the league initially announces one team will relocate and that perhaps that is the Rams and then leaves a situation to see if San Diego or Oakland can work something out to put a second in with the Rams." She added, "I do not believe the league will put the Rams and the Raiders in Los Angeles and leave San Diego in its current market without a stadium solution in place" (“That Other Pregame Show,” CBSSN, 8/26).
