The Raiders in Anaheim? A Lot of ‘Ifs’

If the Los Angeles Raiders stay in Los Angeles, and if the Los Angeles Coliseum undergoes renovation, then the Raiders would be welcome to play some of their games at Anaheim Stadium, provided scheduling conflicts with the present tenants--the California Angels and Los Angeles Rams--can be worked out, City Manager Bob Simpson said Wednesday.

Under a lucrative offer by the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission to keep the Raiders from leaving town, the Coliseum would be rebuilt, requiring Raiders’ home games to be played elsewhere during construction.

The Raiders and USC, which also plays its home games at the Coliseum, would like to use Pasadena’s Rose Bowl during the renovation, but the city has a policy against the Rose Bowl being used for more than 12 major events a year. Moreover, scheduling conflicts with UCLA home football games at the Rose Bowl can be expected to further complicate the use of that historic stadium.

Although Simpson said that to his knowledge the city has not been contacted regarding the use of Anaheim Stadium, the city would be willing to accommodate the Raiders “as a public service.” And for a fee, he said, which would have to be negotiated.

“Anything that occurs on game days . . . specified for the long-term tenants would pose a problem,” Simpson said. But he added that it is conceivable schedules could be adjusted.

“It is something we would look at doing, if they approached us,” Simpson said, adding:

“We reschedule events in the stadium on a year-round basis.”

California Angels Executive Vice President Michael Schreter also said Wednesday that he was unaware of any proposal for the Raiders to use Anaheim Stadium. But he said any such decision would be left to City Hall.

“That’s a decision that is up to the city of Anaheim,” Schreter said. “Our agreement is with the city, as is the Rams’ agreement.”

“If another professional team occupied Anaheim Stadium during the baseball season, the Angels are satisfied that our lease commitments protect the Angels,” Schreter said.

Spokesmen for the Rams could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Rams executive vice president and legal counsel John Shaw was in New York, where the Rams will play the Giants Sunday in the National Football League playoffs.