A former 49ers executive could have a key role in the return of the Raiders to Los Angeles.
Carmen Policy, who served as V.P. and general counsel of the 49ers before becoming the team’s president in 1991, will spearhead the push to persuade the NFL to embrace the proposed stadium in Carson, California that the Raiders and Chargers would share.
In a Monday afternoon phone interview with PFT, Policy described his role in the project as “unfinished business,” pointing to his efforts to keep the Rams in Los Angeles more than 20 years ago. Along with Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, Policy nearly brokered a deal to build a new stadium for the Rams at Hollywood Park. Negotiations collapsed at the last minute.
So why is Policy, who last worked in the league as president of the Browns in 2004, getting back into the game now?
“I kind of miss the NFL,” Policy said. “I miss show business.”
Policy also believes that bringing the NFL back to L.A. would become an important part of his football legacy. But it would be a limited part of his legacy; Policy will not have an ongoing role with the operation of the stadium or either of the teams. He’s strictly on board to help bring the project to fruition.
“I hope I’m invited to the ribbon cutting,” Policy deadpanned. “And maybe they’ll even give me tickets.”
There may not be many tickets to give away, if the stadium fulfills Policy’s vision of providing what he calls the best game-day experience in any sport. “It will be a football project,” Policy said. “Not a real-estate development project. That should carry a lot of weight with the other owners.”
Ultimately, what the other owners think of the project will go a long way toward determining whether Carson becomes the new home for the NFL in Los Angeles. Policy said he won’t criticize other projects, including the venue in Inglewood proposed by Rams owner Stan Kroenke. Instead, Policy will focus on the benefits of Carson, from highway access to the facility to the proximity of Orange County.
While Policy believes the financial aspects of the project could work with only one team playing there, the goal remains to move two teams to Carson -- in large part because the NFL wants two teams to share a Los Angeles stadium. And Policy firmly believes that it makes the most sense to take a pair of California teams from two of the worst facilities in the league, with fan bases ranging from Mexico to the tip of Northern California.
Policy also explained that the Raiders have no reluctance to share a stadium with the Chargers because the Raiders won’t be a tenant, which they would have been if they’d shared a stadium with the 49ers.
“Technology will make these teams feel at home on game day,” Policy said. “The experience with the Jets and Giants verifies that. They’ll be equal owners, equal occupants.”
Plenty of hurdles remain before “might” becomes “will.” With Policy on board, the project has taken another important step toward winning the race to return to L.A.
And the fact that the news of Policy’s involvement comes on the same day details emerged regarding the proposed financing plan for a stadium that would keep the Chargers in San Diego probably tells San Diego all it needs to know about the team’s reaction to the proposal.