It sounds as though as the Raiders will need a temporary home prior to their new stadium opening in Las Vegas for the 2020 season.
The Raiders have lease options to continue playing at the Oakland Coliseum for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. While playing in Oakland for the upcoming season seems like a safe bet, it’s not a certainty. The following year is even less of a sure thing, especially if things don’t go well this year.
As it stands, the Raiders don’t have a home for 2019, although owner Mark Davis didn’t rule out the possibility of trying to extend their departure one more year. That, however, does not appear likely, according to Scott McKibben, director of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority.
“I would say to you with the highest level of confidence, my opinion and recommendation and that of my board members, I don’t believe there is any appetite for a third season in Oakland,” McKibben told USA Today.
That would, of course, create the problem of where the Raiders would play in 2019. Among the options could be San Antonio, which Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News says shouldn’t be ruled out.
FYI on #Raiders: Depending on how things turn out in Oakland in 2017, don't rule out San Antonio as a possible temp venue next couple years
— Vincent Bonsignore (@DailyNewsVinny) March 28, 2017
San Antonio is home to the Alamodome, which seats 65,000 for football and annually hosts the Valero Alamo Bowl. The stadium also hosted Saints games while the team was forced to play away from New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina.
San Antonio may not end up being where the Raiders play prior to moving to Las Vegas. However, it doesn’t sound like the Oakland Coliseum will be there home for three more seasons.
