Speculation could soon become a reality with the Oakland Raiders relocation efforts. They have one year remaining on their lease at the O.co Coliseum and talks between the Raiders and the city have failed to progress in recent weeks.
Late in July it was reported that the Raiders could be moving to San Antonio because the Oakland Athletics agreed to terms on a 10-year lease renewal to play at the O.co Coliseum while Raiders owner Mark Davis sought to build a new venue on the same site. Well, the Athletics signed the 10-year lease earlier this month and Davis said he hasn't asked for a one-year extension on his lease (which expires at the end of the 2015-2016 season).
Instead, he's stepped up his efforts looking for a new stadium in a different location.
According to sources, Davis had a serious meeting with San Antonio officials regarding the team's relocation. He's kept other locations in mind, including Los Angeles and potentially Portland, which he'll need to do because it's believed the San Antonio Spurs will openly oppose the Raiders' move. Roger Goodell proposed that the Raiders share the 49ers' new stadium in Santa Clara, but Davis isn't a fan of that idea. Although the Spurs, Cowboys and Texans will oppose the Raiders' relocation to San Antonio, city officials are reportedly pushing for it.
Davis also has another supporter in southern California - the former Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson, who has been eager to have an NFL team return to the city.
"I would love that," Johnson told ESPN in regards to Davis moving the Raiders to Los Angeles, via this SF Gate article. "San Antonio? Come on. The Spurs? ... Mark knows there's only one place he can go - that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."
Now that Davis has made it clear it's likely the team will be relocating, a number of cities will pop up as interested candidates in the near future because of the numerous economic implications an NFL team wields. Talks have been limited to San Antonio thus far, but opposition could drive them elsewhere.
You can read more about the Oakland Raiders' potential relocation in this NBC Sports ProFootballTalk article.
