Bay Area Official Says Raiders Are Set to Play There if Coliseum Isn’t Ready

Negotiations have been completed on a one-year agreement to send the Raiders back to Oakland if they are without their home field in Los Angeles this season, according to Don Perata, a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. But there is no indication the Raiders are ready to sign the agreement.

It is thought that the agreement for the Raiders to play in the Oakland Coliseum, their home until 1982, is an escape hatch should the earthquake-damaged Los Angeles Coliseum not be ready by the NFL season in September. Coliseum officials have assured the Raiders that work on the 71-year-old structure will be completed by then.

“The licensing agreement,” said Perata of the deal negotiated with a representative of owner Al Davis, “reflects our desire to have them here. The licensing agreement was designed to facilitate the object, which is to accommodate the Raiders if they are homeless.”

Said Raider executive Al LoCasale: “It’s news to me. It’s the move-of-the-week story.”