NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said he is hopeful that the Oakland Raiders’ stadium situation will be resolved soon, stating that he believes the team’s preference is to remain in the Bay Area.
The Raiders are due to move into a new stadium in Las Vegas next year. The team is currently seeking a venue for its final regular-season campaign in California after last month opting to withdraw a lease proposal to continue playing at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The team has been linked to playing 2019 games at the new home of English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur and Oracle Park, home of Major League Baseball team the San Francisco Giants.
A groundshare at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, has also been mooted, along with a move to SDCCU Stadium in San Diego, the former home of the team now known as the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Raiders opted to withdraw from the lease proposal after the City of Oakland filed a federal antitrust and breach of contract lawsuit against the NFL, the Raiders and each of the other 31 NFL clubs, claiming compensation for the “cartel” actions that have led to its home franchise relocating to a new stadium in Las Vegas.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Super Bowl at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Goodell addressed the Raiders’ situation.
“They’ve been having a variety of discussions with officials looking at their options, making sure that they evaluate them,” he said. “It’s unfortunate the litigation was filed prior to their final season in Oakland, but that’s the reality – that was filed by the city. I’m hopeful that they’ll get a resolution soon.”
He added: “As far as timing, the key thing on the timing is our schedule. We need to make a schedule obviously for the 2019 season and the sooner the better for us. I think the hope of Mark (Davis, Raiders owner) is to continue to be in the Bay Area with his Raider fans.”
Image: Oakland Raiders
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