Raiders Reach Lease Deal To Keep Them In Oakland 1 More Year
OAKLAND (CBS SF) - The Raiders will be staying in Oakland for another NFL season, but where they'll play after that is still very much up in the air.
The Joint Powers Authority, which controls the use of the O.Co Coliseum, confirmed the news Friday.
"Today, the Joint Powers Authority approved a short term lease renewal for the Oakland Raiders to remain as tenants at the Oakland Coliseum. The team and the Authority plan to remain in active discussions for future tenancies and even stadium projects on the site," read a release from Dan Cohen of the JPA. "The Raiders will pay a fee of $400,000 in December 2014 with an additional fee for use of the training facility in Alameda, CA. The lease must now be approved by the Oakland City Council and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors."
The Raiders have recently threatened a move to Los Angeles if a long-term deal for a new stadium can't be reached in Oakland. That came on the heels of the city flirting with San Antonio as a potential landing spot. Oakland city leaders and JPA members continue to voice optimism that the team will stay in Oakland.
"This is a good start and we need to maintain this momentum," said Oakland City Councilmember and Joint Powers Authority Chair Larry Reid. "Starting today, we can work with new urgency and take a fresh look at the opportunity ahead of us to find a solution for our teams and our community," he added.
Joint Powers Authority Executive Director Scott McKibben said, "We are confident in the future for professional sports in Alameda County and Oakland. There are numerous paths forward to retain all of our teams and support the local economy. We will use this lease term to continue to work on a long-term solution that works for all parties."
