New-Look Coliseum Board Will Try to Get Raiders to Stay

The Los Angeles Coliseum Commission made two key board room substitutions Wednesday--moves that officials said could help keep the Raiders pro football team in a renovated Coliseum and out of Irwindale.

Former Commission President Alexander Haagen and his ally, Fred Reidman, were replaced on the nine-member board by Assistant Los Angeles Police Chief Jesse Brewer and developer Neil F. Campbell. Raiders owner Al Davis had reportedly refused to negotiate with the commission as long as Haagen and Reidman remained on the board.

“It’s no secret Alexander Haagen and Al Davis were like oil and water,” said newly installed commission President Richard Riordan. “Hopefully this will help us work something out with the Raiders . . . I think chemistry has improved dramatically.”

“Were hoping he’s willing to talk now,” new member Brewer said of Davis.

Haagen, a prominent shopping center developer, last year announced his intention of stepping down from the commission. Both he and Reidman are state appointees of the joint state, county, city agency that runs the Coliseum and Sports Arena.

Unified and Eager

With the appointment of Brewer and Campbell, Riordan said, the commission is now unified and eager to work out a long-term lease with the Raiders that would include a substantially upgraded Coliseum. Tentative plans envision lowering the playing field and removing the surrounding track to add better seating, as well as building luxury “sky boxes,” a feature Davis covets.

“He’s got to come to the party, too,” Riordan said of the controversial Raiders owner. “He’s not going to do it with three-year lease and three-year options.”

But the Raiders’ arrangement to move to Irwindale, now delayed in court, remains a major obstacle to the conciliation sought by Riordan. If the courts approve environmental plans to build a stadium on what is a gravel pit, Irwindale is still faced with producing a contract satisfactory to Davis. But if the Raiders try to run a reverse, Irwindale is expected to fight.

The Raiders are committed to the Coliseum through 1992, and still owe the agency $970,000 in rent for the recently completed season.

Al LoCosale, Davis’ executive assistant, said he was “not aware of any major problems” in negotiations with Irwindale. He declined to comment on whether Haagen’s and Reidman’s departures would change the Raiders relationship with the Coliseum board.

Coliseum officials said they are hoping to talk with Davis early next week.

Lawyers for the two parties, Riordan said, have recently discussed the rent payment on an “open and mature level.”

“We love the Raiders, we want the Raiders, but we still have a fiduciary responsibility to collect the rent,” Riordan said.