Where to Place the Raiders

There has been a lot of talk on relocation for the Oakland Raiders, as the Coliseum is growing old and both Oakland teams are craving a new stadium or possible relocation. Word was it was possible the Chargers, who are also getting over Qualcomm, and the Raiders may split a new stadium in the city thats been waiting for an NFL team, Los Angeles. But of course now that the league is open to Los Angeles having a team yet again, they will focus on what is most profitable. Unfortunately for Mark Davis and the Raiders, that means they are the odd man out.

Competition with the Rams has become a realistic problem for the Raiders, as the Rams owner Stan Kroenke is done with the city of St. Louis. Kroenke is worth more than $6 billion and has been purchasing big chunks of land in Los Angeles. Being the owner of the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, and owning the biggest share of Arsenal, Kroenke is't afraid to front his own money to build a new stadium in Los Angeles for his team. That gives Kroenke a huge advantage in the battle to take Los Angeles, as the Raiders and Chargers split stadium plan leans more on public support meaning less profit for the league. It also appears that the Rams would be the only team occupying Los Angeles unless the league saw it more profitable to have two teams in the second biggest media market in country. If that was the case however, the league would turn to Chargers owner Dean Spanos and hand him the hall pass instead of Davis.

But the Chargers and the city of San Diego are still on good terms. They could still work out their own plan to keep the Chargers and create an escape from Qualcomm. Kroenke's ability to pay for all the moving costs and build the stadium without any help is what interests the league, as they have no problem just leaving Davis helpless. Coliseum City was a plan to keep the Raiders in Oakland, but $900 million budget had a gaping $400 million whole left that plan in the dust. Alameda County and the city of Oakland have no interest in supporting the NFL and have backed out on the plan. The Raiders need a new stadium, but unlike Miami, the people of Oakland wont pay for it. If Davis wants to keep the Raiders in the East Bay or even California, he will have to pay for the stadium himself. But why would he do that when there are public officials all over the country who are there to support and provide in situations like such.

But what about the city of St. Louis? They have made it clear that they want an NFL team if Kroenke continues to ignore them and walks out the door. The city has announced they are willing to build a new stadium for a team to fill. Could this be where Davis receives the support he is looking for and will the league allow it? The league may not be cool with the Raiders moving to St. Louis, but a city they do really like is London. Davis could receive full support from the league if he was open to moving out of country. The league has been looking to expand to cities like such, having games there each season like this weeks Jets and Dolphins game in London. It will be interesting to see where the Raiders end up, but it is almost certain Los Angeles wont be there home again.