The 49ers are getting a new stadium. And the other team that calls the Bay Area home is now looking at getting a new stadium of its own.
According to the Oakland Tribune, a “secret meeting” (not anymore) regarding a new home for the Raiders occurred on August 9, at the request of the NFL. Participants included owner Mark Davis, Raiders president Amy Trask, Oakland mayor Jean Quan, and other city officials.
“It was an important meeting because it is at a stage where the Raiders must develop a [stadium] option,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the Tribune.
The options include building a new stadium in or near Oakland, staying at the current location in the existing stadium, and moving to Los Angeles. Some league insiders believe the NFL would not allow Davis to move the team to L.A., unless he sells a controlling interest in the club.
The best option -- even though it’s highly unlikely -- would be for the 49ers and Raiders to share the new stadium being constructed in Santa Clara.
Despite what the bean counters call the “economies of scale” related to the construction of one stadium to be used by two teams, the two teams no longer can play in the preseason because a small pocket of their fans act like members of rival gangs. Having the Raiders invade on a regular basis the 49ers “turf” could lead to ugly incidents in and around the stadium grounds.
Still, the Raiders currently share a stadium with the A’s, making Oakland’s football team the last NFL franchise to play on a field that sports a baseball infield until baseball season has ended. At a time when the health and safety of players is taking on greater and greater importance, getting one of the teams out of O.co Coliseum should be a priority for everyone.