Coliseum Dangles the Bottom Line for Davis

Los Angeles Coliseum Commission President Richard Riordan and two officials of Spectacor Management Group, the Coliseum’s private managers, have told Al Davis, owner of the Los Angeles Raiders, that he could make far more money from a reconstructed Coliseum than he could if he moved the team to Oakland or Sacramento.

Meeting last week with Davis amid reports circulated by Raiders sources that Davis may announce a move north as early as next week, Riordan said Davis was told that sales of 180 new luxury boxes and 10,000 club seats in a new Coliseum to corporate and other buyers for up to $50 million would in effect match the franchise fees that Oakland and Sacramento interests have offered.

Riordan said Davis had indicated he would like to hear more details. Davis did not return a telephone call seeking comment. However, various Raiders sources, asking not to be identified, have said that a deal is close to being consummated to move the team out of Los Angeles and could be announced next Monday or Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Sacramento sold $91.8 million in bonds Tuesday, with about half of that reserved to pay the Raiders the $50 million fee it has offered.