Oakland Raiders likely to play at Coliseum through 2020: report
The Oakland Coliseum
OAKLAND, Calif. (Alex Savidge/KTVU) - The Raiders are likely to stay in Oakland longer than anticipated -- as the team awaits construction of their new stadium in Las Vegas.
The Raiders might stay at the Oakland Coliseum for four more seasons, instead of the originally anticipated two years, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The team’s current contract allows them to play at the Coliseum through the 2018 season. But the Chronicle reports that the team is in the process of negotiating a possible two-year lease extension with the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Authority.
The Raiders are waiting for their new $1.9-billion dollar stadium to be built in Las Vegas , but according to reports out of Nevada, there have been some issues with the project centered around parking and transportation.
Under the current lease agreement , the Raiders pay $3.5 million dollars a year in rent to the city and county.
If the Coliseum authority works out an extension, it's possible the members could ask the Raiders to pay more since the team needs a place to play.
Jim Zelinski of Save Oakland Sports told KTVU this could be a chance for the Coliseum Authority to increase the Raiders' rent and bring in more revenue during this interim period - a financially beneficial silver lining to the Raiders hanging out a few more years.
Some local lawmakers, including Oakland Councilman Larry Reid, are opposed to extending the lease.