S.F. Chronicle: Ronnie Lott lobbies for new Raiders stadium in Oakland

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 | 2 a.m.

Owner Mark Davis is determined to get a new stadium for his Oakland Raiders to play in.

And if the Raiders can’t secure a deal in the Bay Area by September, there could be one to allow them to relocate to Las Vegas, a source told the San Francisco Chronicle.

With talks between Davis and Las Vegas leaders to build a $1.4 billion stadium on 42 acres near the Strip significantly past the flirtation stage, some notables in the Bay Area have seen the writing on the wall. If they don’t build a new facility, the franchise could become the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Chronicle reported Monday that NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott and retired quarterback Rodney Peete are leading a group of predominantly black backers to build the Raiders a new home in Oakland. The group recently met with Raiders officials to brief them on their plans for the 120-acre Oakland Coliseum site, the Chronicle reports.

In Las Vegas, the 65,000-seat stadium plan hinges on $750 million of public money through tourism tax — monies which would have to be OK’d by lawmakers. Davis would contribute $500 million and Sheldon Adelson of Las Vegas Sands Corp. would contribute $150 million.

Another Chronicle source says the Raiders would prefer to stay in Oakland. Here’s the rest of the Chronicle’s story.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21