OAKLAND — City and county officials have asked for an appraisal of the jointly owned Coliseum site, as negotiations begin with a group headed by NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott to build a new football stadium to keep the Raiders in Oakland.
On Tuesday, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to begin negotiations with Lott's investment group, Oakland City Pro Football Group, and the city of Oakland "regarding price and terms for sale" of the 120-acre site that includes the Coliseum and Oracle Arena.
The Oakland City Council is expected to discuss the matter in closed session on Tuesday.
"I'm happy that we are moving forward together as one in our efforts to work to keep the Raiders here in the city of Oakland," Councilman Larry Reid said. "I'm hoping that our council will do the same that the county Board of Supervisors did this last Tuesday."
City officials said it will take a month to appraise the Coliseum grounds.
Lott is leading a team of mostly black investors that includes former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete and Atlanta developer Egbert Perry, chairman of the board of Fannie Mae. Lott played two seasons with the Raiders in Los Angeles (1991-92) after 10 years with the 49ers (1981-90). Peete was with the Raiders in 2000-2001 but played in only one game.
Lott has met with several Oakland City Council members, county supervisors and Mayor Libby Schaaf over the past few months. He could not be reached for comment.
The Coliseum complex has been owned by the city and county since it opened in 1966. The aging facility is the only stadium shared by professional football and baseball teams.
Raiders owner Mark Davis did not return calls for comment.
Davis' frustration with efforts to build a new stadium in Oakland has led him to look elsewhere, and he has pitched moving his team to Las Vegas if funding is approved for a new stadium there. A Nevada tourism committee is exploring stadium sites and is expected to give recommendations to lawmakers who need to approve the plans. In Las Vegas, Davis is backed by billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson of Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Majestic Realty Co.
County Supervisor Nate Miley said Wednesday that Lott's group has been focused on a new football stadium but would not rule out the possibility of the A's being part of their plan. A's owner Lew Wolff said he doesn't know anything about Lott's efforts but said he's the "right guy" for a football stadium project.
The supervisors' vote paves the way for two representatives to open negotiations with Lott.
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