Raiders Ignore NFL Edict On Gold '50' Numerals At O.co Coliseum
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- The Oakland Raiders organization appears to be thumbing its nose at the National Football League by refusing to conform to league-wide marketing efforts for Super Bowl 50.
The Raiders' O.co Coliseum home is the only stadium in the NFL which has not displayed the "50" numerals at midfield in gold, a visual reminder of the NFL's season-long celebration of Super Bowl 50 to be played at Levi's Stadium, home of the 49ers.
According to Sports Business Daily, the Raiders have specifically told the company that runs game day operations at the Coliseum not to use the special gold marks. "The Raiders have asked us not to do that," Chris Wright, AEG Facilities Vice-President told the Sports Business Daily.
Earlier this year, the NFL announced every stadium would feature the gold 50 yard marker on the field during every game of the 2015 season as part of the buildup to the Super Bowl anniversary game.
A spokesman for the NFL told the Sports Business Daily the missing gold numerals were because the Oakland A's were still playing home games at the Coliseum. But Wright disputed that assertion, telling the Daily, "It has nothing to do with baseball. The last six home baseball games are through this weekend, and there will be no gold marks for the rest of the Raiders' regular season."
The Raiders did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Carlos E. Castañeda is Senior Editor, News & Social Media for CBS San Francisco and a San Francisco native. You can follow him on Twitter or send him an email.
