Where does Mark Davis really want the Raiders, Oakland or Los Angeles? The Raiders’ company line has always been Oakland, but Coliseum City strategist, Floyd Kephart, would like to see more substance behind those words.
In an interview with Damon Bruce on 95.7 The Game, Kephart suggested he isn’t certain where Mark Davis really wants the Raiders. When asked by Damon where the Raiders would prefer to play, this was Kephart’s response:
That’s probably the hardest question anybody’s asked me. And the reason is that the Raiders have been vocal about their desire to stay in Oakland. At least for the past four and a half months, they have said that this is their preference and even in the announcement with the Chargers about considering Carson. At the same time, it’s difficult to answer because the Raiders have not presented to the citizens of Oakland Alameda County and the East Bay any plan or design as to what stadium they would actually like to see. They have done that in Carson. In the case of the land for example, they’ve asked the city and county to give them the land for no cost while in Carson they’re prepared to pay $150 million for the land. So when you ask that question, I don’t know. I believe Mark Davis when he says his preference is Oakland and I believe the Raiders when they said they’d like to stay in Oakland, but I also have to look at the actions that are taking place in Carson.
Kephart believes a potential move to Carson “is being driven to a large degree by the NFL.” Whether or not that’s the case, the threat of moving to Los Angeles has always given Davis a necessary bargaining chip. It’s something that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Kephart said he remains optimistic “direct negotiations” will take place in the coming weeks that will determine if a stadium deal can be done. The specifics of those negotiations are complicated, but this much is not – if Coliseum City is going to happen, it needs to get traction soon.
Here’s the full interview as heard on The Damon Bruce Show on 95.7 The Game…