Fate of Oakland Raiders remains in question
The question has lingered in the air for years: What happens to the Raiders when Al Davis dies?
Because the organization is so shrouded in secrecy, we can only piece together a partial picture, though Davis has said for years that his succession plan will keep the team in his family — with his wife, Carol, and son, Mark. In 2006, when asked who might run the team when he was gone, Davis said Amy Trask, Raiders chief executive, would certainly have a role and that Hall of Fame coach John Madden might be involved too.
“That’s if I don’t outlive them…,” Davis said, changing the subject. “Time runs by you. My life goes on. We’re still here and we want to win.”
Precisely how much of the team Davis owned is another closely kept secret. In 2007, he sold a 20% minority interest to a group of East Coast investors, reportedly reducing his stake in the franchise from 67% to 47%. Davis and his family retained their controlling interest in the team with no plans to relinquish it, the San Francisco Chronicle reported at the time.
Davis had the luxury of unloading such a considerable chunk because two years earlier he had acquired a 31% stake in a settlement with the heirs of Raiders co-founder Ed McGah.
The death of Davis will bring new questions, among them:
Are the Raiders now a stronger candidate to return to the Los Angeles market?
Will a new owner try to re-brand the franchise in an attempt to broaden its fan base?
Does this increase the likelihood of the Raiders further strengthening their relationship with their Bay Area neighbors and possibly joining the San Francisco 49ers’ effort to finance a new stadium, one the teams could share?
“Al looked at the 49ers as the evil empire,” former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo said. “He would never have considered doing a stadium with the 49ers. Now, because of the horrendous costs, it would cut your equity and commitments in half.
“If they ever did a stadium together, it would make sense.”
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