The city of Oakland late Friday disclosed its last-ditch offer to keep the Raiders, but the NFL quickly threw cold water on it, all but assuring owners at this week's annual meeting will approve the club’s relocation to Las Vegas. The proposal is the same one the city presented to owner committees in early March, where it was coolly received, sources said. Contacted Friday on whether Oakland’s newly public offer would make a difference for the vote in Phoenix, Giants President & CEO John Mara replied, “Nope.” One NFL source said, “We appreciate the continued efforts. The foundation elements – rapid access to the land at nominal cost and free of major contingencies are not present.”
In a letter sent Friday to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote that the Oakland stadium proposal is "filled with uncertainty." Goodell wrote the plan is not "clear and specific, actionable in a reasonable time frame, and free of major contingencies" (EAST BAY TIMES, 3/26). Schaaf yesterday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum joined area business leaders and "about 100 Raider fans" for a rally to "make their pitch about why the team should stay in Oakland" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/26).
