The Oakland Raiders recently discussed a potential move to San Antonio with officials from the Texas city, according to the San Antonio Express-News. The meeting, which included owner Mark Davis and two other staff members, reportedly took place on July 18. Davis declined comment from CSN Raiders insider Scott Bair.
Raiders discussing San Antonio relocation, per report
Any possible move would be a long way off, but the franchise is apparently looking into it.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
I reached Raiders owner Mark Davis by phone. He declined comment on a report regarding possible move to San Antonio.
— Scott Bair (@BairCSN) July 29, 2014 NFL senior vice president of communications Greg Aiello told the Express-News the Raiders have not applied for relocation with the league. The team would need 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners to vote in favor of a move for it to happen.
“We don’t have any information about (Davis’ meeting in San Antonio), so there is no reason for us to comment,” Aiello said Tuesday. “We have received no applications from any of our teams to relocate at this point, so there is nothing for us to respond to.”
The Raiders currently play in O.co Coliseum, sharing the venue with Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics. The team's lease expires at the end of this season, and there has been talk of building a new stadium on the same site. However, the Athletics are in talks on a 10-year lease extension with O.co, which would obviously impact the Raiders' plans.
Buffalo Sale
If the Raiders were to actually make the move to San Antonio, they would likely begin by playing home games at the Alamodome, which seats up to 72,000. Opened in 1993, the stadium is home to the University of Texas-San Antonio Road Runners, the Arena Football League’s San Antonio Talons and college football’s Alamo Bowl. It would need upgrades and could be ready for the start of the 2015 season, according to the Express-News.
UPDATE: Davis made a statement via the Raiders’ official Twitter account:
1 of 3 - Raiders Owner Mark Davis, "I was in San Antonio to honor Cliff Branch on his induction into the PVILCA..."
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) July 29, 2014 2 of 3 Mark Davis cont'd, Former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros is a friend, and Henry suggested I take the opportunity to meet with..."
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) July 29, 2014 3 of 3 Mark Davis, "...with some of the city officials while we were in town. I have nothing further to discuss on the topic."
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) July 29, 2014 See More:
