Why the Oakland Raiders aren’t moving to Los Angeles
Jan 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman talks about ways to help keep warm for cold conditions during the Super Bowl XLVIII stadium preparations press conference at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
NFL to help the Raiders.
The NFL jumped in on the Coliseum City project after real estate developer Floyd Kephart failed to get it off the ground. The Contra Costa Times reported on it recently but the NFL has been working on it for months. The NFL really wants Davis to sell the Raiders to someone who can get them in good financial shape.
But since he won’t, they’re going in hands on to turn the Raiders into a modern-day franchise. Legendary owner Al Davis was more of a football man so the business side of the team was more like a mom-and-pop shop. He didn’t focus on the corporate sponsors to build his franchise from a financial standpoint.
This is just one of the ways the Raiders never went into the turn of the century with the other franchises. GM Reggie McKenzie brought in the modern-day scouting departments and head coach Jack Del Rio Brought in modern-day workout facilities. Now, the NFL is getting involved on the business end so the revenue sharing will be stronger on the Raiders’ end.
Getting involved in the Coliseum City project also makes the NFL money while helping that happen. It would actually be worth it for the NFL to give the Raiders more than they do under the G-4 policy if they have to. The NFL doesn’t want to leave a strong Bay Area economy and the No. 6 media market to just the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL Executive Vice President Eric Grubman told Contra Costa Times via email, “We have for several years stated, ‘Don’t put a real estate developer between the Raiders and the city. If there is development value available, talk to the Raiders about it, or perhaps the Raiders plus the league.'”
Grubman and the NFL are now working with the city to figure out how to take advantage of development rights.
Next: Davis wants to stay