Report: Raiders owner met with San Antonio officials about possible move
Three Oakland Raiders executives, including owner Mark Davis, met with several San Antonio officials on July 18 to discuss the possibility of relocating to the Texas city, reports the San Antonio Express-News.
Former San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros is said to have been the "architect" of the meeting, which reportedly lasted two to three days and involved a tour of the Alamodome and an aerial tour of the city.
With some upgrades, the Alamodome could be ready for a 2015-16 NFL season, though it would be a temporary home at best ... If the Raiders moved here, though, Davis is expected to seek a new stadium within a few years, after the team had proved itself in the Alamo City.
The Raiders lease at current stadium O.co Coliseum expires at the end of the 2014-15 season. However, the Oakland Athletics, who share the stadium with the Raiders, recently signed a new 10-year lease at O.co that accounts for the possibility of building a new football facility.
As the Express-News points out, there are several hurdles that would need to be cleared even if Davis did decide to move the Raiders. Any team that wants to relocate would need the approval of 24 of the league's 32 owners, which could prove difficult considering San Antonio is the 37th-largest media market and Oakland is the sixth.
Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of communications, said that the league has not received any applications for relocation.
More: Rebuilding process underway during make-or-break season for Raiders
The Raiders have also been linked to Los Angeles as a potential relocation city.
- Molly Geary
