The executive director of the body that oversees the running of the Oakland Coliseum stadium has said the Raiders NFL American football franchise is unlikely to be welcome at the ground in 2019.
Earlier this week, the Raiders received approval from NFL owners to relocate from Oakland to Las Vegas, and the team plans on building a state-of-the-art stadium complex in the city.
The stadium is unlikely to be completed until 2020 and in the meantime, the Raiders will continue to play at the Coliseum (pictured). Raiders owner Mark Davis confirmed the franchise would play at the 56,000-seat stadium for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, with a decision to be made on the following campaign at a later date.
But Scott McKibben, executive director of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, has suggested that the body would not be open to the Raiders playing at the ground for a third season.
“I would say to you with the highest level of confidence, in my opinion and recommendation, and that of my board members – I don’t believe there is any appetite for a third season (in Oakland),” McKibben told USA Today Sports.
He added: “It’s actually financially to our benefit if they didn’t exercise the options and play here even in the two years they’ve got.”
NFL teams voted 31-1 in favour of the Raiders relocating to Las Vegas. The team plans on building a $1.9bn (£1.5bn/€1.8bn), 65,000-capacity stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.
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