The Oakland Raiders may soon be changing hands, a development that reportedly could increase the franchise's chances of relocating to Los Angeles. Mark Davis, the Raiders owner, has been talking about selling some, or all, of the franchise to an unnamed Los Angeles investor, according to a report from Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
"In talking to four different sources on the subject, Davis has been in contact with an LA businessman and investor and developer who would help in the movement of the Raiders to Los Angeles and joining with the San Diego Chargers in the Carson project," Cole reported late Tuesday.
Davis and the Raiders, of course, are currently working on a joint stadium proposal with the Chargers and owner Dean Spanos in Carson County in southern California. This project is currently up against another initiative being advanced by St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke in Ingledwood, CA. Nearly all reports have suggested the Kroenke's Inglewood proposal is much more likely to be the one chosen by the NFL, due to the fact that it's farther along in the planning process and because the plan will offer a new home for the NFL Network.
Per Cole, another reason for the Inglewood project being preferred is fear amongst NFL owners that Davis is not "capable, by himself" of relocating the team, rebranding it and then building a fanbase through ticket drives and other such initiatives that would be required as part of a Los Angeles move.
It seems that the two projects have "split" the league's owners, with one faction, led by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, preferring Kroenke's Inglewood plan and deep pockets and another faction which believes it would be easier to see the two already CA-based teams make the jump to Carson.
In the end, Cole suggests that Davis may actually have to "make a significant move," meaning a potential full or partial sale of the team, if he wants to see the Raiders leave Oakland.
