NFL commissioner Roger Goodell isn’t ready to pull the plug on Oakland, and now of the game’s greatest stars is part of a group trying to keep the Raiders there.
According to David DeBolt of the Bay Area News Group, the group of investors offering to purchase the decrepit Coliseum includes Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott and former quarterback Rodney Peete.
The group sent a letter to local officials prior to Goodell’s declaration that “I think we can find a solution there,” amid growing interest (and money) from Las Vegas.
However, the report said city officials dismissed the letter, and are not moving forward with the offer to buy and renovate the Coliseum.
The group was offering $167.3 million for the Coliseum land (which includes the neighboring NBA’s Oracle Arena), and their plan included replacing the sewer and septic systems, one of the biggest complaints in the past, as sewage has backed up into dugouts there before.
Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf said the city was focused on the team and the league creating a deal that would keep the team there.
“We did not recommend consideration of this offer at this time,” the mayor said. “We remain committed to a team-centered development. We want the Raiders and the NFL at the center of this future site.”
League officials including Eric Grubman (the point man for the Rams’ move to Los Angeles) were in Oakland to meet with local officials, and Lott was apparently part of those meetings.