Report: San Antonio trying hard to lure Raiders
The city of San Antonio has been putting in extensive work while attempting to try to lure the Raiders into relocating to the city, according to documents obtained by the San Antonio Express-News.
According to the report, in the weeks leading up to a July meeting in San Antonio between Raiders executives, including owner Mark Davis, and San Antonio officials and business leaders, city staff conducted "significant analysis of a potential deal," while others worked to make the weekend a “once in a lifetime” tour.
The city has also identified $27.4 million in necessary upgrades to the Alamodome to get it to NFL standards, and has examined potential funding sources for a new stadium.
More: Cowboys, Texans owners talk potential of Raiders to San Antonio
A Raiders move to San Antonio still is considered a long shot by those with knowledge of the matter, but the city appears to have presented itself as a superior landing spot should the Bay Area franchise decide to relocate, and strong relationships between Davis and local leaders could help spur the deal.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the Raiders will not be asking for an extension on their stadium deal with O.co Coliseum, which expires at the end of this season.
The Express-News also reports that a source with knowledge of the situation discounted comments made by San Antonio Spurs shareholder Charlie Amato expressing concern about a Raiders move to the city, and said Spurs owner Peter Holt "assured Mark [Davis] the Spurs would not be a roadblock to the Raiders relocating."
More: Red McCombs praises Raiders visit to San Antonio
Davis has called his meeting in San Antonio, which reportedly included dinner with former mayor Henry Cisneros and billionaire B.J. “Red” McCombs, a "serious conversation."
- Molly Geary
