Advertisement

They’re Ready for Raiders II in the Bay Area : Pro football: Oakland Coliseum calls a special meeting for today. Radio stations playing highlights of classic games.

Share
From Associated Press

As radio stations replayed historic moments in Raider history and fans jockeyed for tickets, the Oakland Coliseum called a special meeting today that could lead to a return of the silver and black.

Raider attorney Amy Trask flew to Oakland on Thursday amid reports she was trying to complete legal details of a possible move that would leave Los Angeles, the nation’s second largest television market, without an NFL team.

Judy Van Austen, spokeswoman for the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Board of Directors, released a statement that could be a salve for Raiders fans who have waited 13 years for their team to come home.

Advertisement

“The Coliseum will be asked to formally review the proposal and authorize board president George Vukasin to execute a letter of intent with the Raiders to be co-signed by Al Davis, managing general partner of the Raiders,” Van Austen said.

Oakland Coliseum callers Thursday were directed to a recording: “We have no information at this time on the status of the Raiders returning to the Coliseum, or on tickets to their games if they do so.”

Bay Area radio stations were flooded with calls from euphoric Raider fans and indignant San Francisco 49er supporters. The stations played tapes of such moments as Daryle Lamonica’s winning pass to beat the New York Jets in the infamous “Heidi game” more than two decades ago.

The Raiders, who left Oakland in 1982, would become the second team to abandon the Los Angeles area. The Rams’ move from Anaheim to St. Louis was approved two months ago.

Other teams were immediately mentioned as candidates to fill the void. An Arizona Cardinal official wouldn’t rule out a move to Los Angeles if the Raiders leave. There also was speculation in Seattle about a move by the Seahawks.

A source close to the NFL told the Associated Press on Wednesday the move back to Oakland was a “done deal.” League spokesman Joe Browne countered that “any discussion of a done deal is premature.”

Advertisement

Rumors of a Raiders return have been around for years, but they gained momentum a few weeks ago when team officials with tape measures began charting the size of the press box during an Oakland Athletics game.

The Raiders overcame the NFL’s attempt to block their move to Los Angeles in 1982 by winning an antitrust suit in a legal struggle that enriched Davis and cost the league about $50 million in damages and attorney fees.

But now Davis is unhappy with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and has been considering stadium offers from Oakland and Hollywood Park in Inglewood.

The Hollywood Park proposal, endorsed by the NFL, calls for construction of a $250-million stadium by 1997.

Oakland’s current offer is for an $85-million modernization of the Oakland Coliseum, including the luxury suites Davis wants. The improvements would be financed though government bonds to be repaid largely through revenues generated by ticket sales and personal seat licenses.

Advertisement