Post by TheShadow on Feb 16, 2010 17:57:18 GMT -5
www.insidebayarea.com/
By Chris Metinko
Oakland Tribune
Amid talk of new stadiums in Fremont, San Jose and Santa Clara, could the Bay Area's next new sports stadium actually be built in Oakland?
And could it be a football stadium?
The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority Board — the governing agency of the Coliseum sports complex — will be asked next week to approve a "feasibility study" to look at the possibility of building a new football stadium on or adjacent to Coliseum property.
"The Raiders have been interested in this for a long time," said Deena McClain, executive director of the authority. "This is a more organized look to see what the options are."
The study, which must still be authorized by the authority's board at its meeting next Friday, is expected to cost $125,000 and last four or five months. If approved, it will be performed by CSL International, the same company currently looking for new arena possibilities for the Edmonton Oilers hockey club.
McClain said the study will look at things such as what kinds of new revenues a new stadium would bring and where funding for such a project could be found.
One of the more interesting aspects of the study is the fact it will look at the possibility of maybe two tenants at the stadium.
"The idea of the Raiders and the 49ers sharing a stadium has obviously been mentioned before," McClain said.
The idea, in fact, has been mentioned a few times before. More than a year ago, the NFL asked the teams to look into the possibility of sharing a stadium. San Francisco 49ers President Jed York also is on record several times stating Oakland would be an option, especially if the 49ers are unable to successfully build their stadium in Santa Clara.
Just this week the Santa Clara City Council approved a June 8 ballot measure for voters to vote on a new stadium for the 49ers.
The idea of a shared stadium would not be revolutionary in the NFL. The New York Giants and Jets shared a stadium for several decades and are building a new stadium together in New Jersey that will be open for the 2010 season.
Alameda County Supervisor Gail Steele, who serves on the authority's board, said there has been talk of a new football stadium over the years.
"It has been out there," Steele said. "And now you have this whole problem with where are the 49ers going to go? Especially if they don't go to Santa Clara."
Steele said building a new stadium would likely ensure the Raiders stay in place for years to come, and that's something she strongly favors.
"The Raiders are Oakland," Steele said. "I think they're great for the city and for the county and would like them to stay here forever."
However, Steele said the one thing that will not be used in such a venture would be public funds. The city and county each currently pay about $10 million annually to pay for the upgrades to the Coliseum that were agreed upon to lure back the Raiders. After nearly 15 years of such payments, approximately $150 million is still owed.
For their part, Raiders officials seem pleased by the idea of a new stadium taking a step forward.
"The site on which we currently play is centrally located, with magnificent public transit alternatives, on a major freeway and presents an exciting location on which a new stadium can serve as the hub of a larger, urban redevelopment project," said Amy Trask, Raiders chief executive. "We have been communicating regularly with city, county and Joint Powers Authority representatives about our desire for a new, world-class stadium and the manner in which such a stadium can serve as a catalyst for regional economic growth."
By Chris Metinko
Oakland Tribune
Amid talk of new stadiums in Fremont, San Jose and Santa Clara, could the Bay Area's next new sports stadium actually be built in Oakland?
And could it be a football stadium?
The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority Board — the governing agency of the Coliseum sports complex — will be asked next week to approve a "feasibility study" to look at the possibility of building a new football stadium on or adjacent to Coliseum property.
"The Raiders have been interested in this for a long time," said Deena McClain, executive director of the authority. "This is a more organized look to see what the options are."
The study, which must still be authorized by the authority's board at its meeting next Friday, is expected to cost $125,000 and last four or five months. If approved, it will be performed by CSL International, the same company currently looking for new arena possibilities for the Edmonton Oilers hockey club.
McClain said the study will look at things such as what kinds of new revenues a new stadium would bring and where funding for such a project could be found.
One of the more interesting aspects of the study is the fact it will look at the possibility of maybe two tenants at the stadium.
"The idea of the Raiders and the 49ers sharing a stadium has obviously been mentioned before," McClain said.
The idea, in fact, has been mentioned a few times before. More than a year ago, the NFL asked the teams to look into the possibility of sharing a stadium. San Francisco 49ers President Jed York also is on record several times stating Oakland would be an option, especially if the 49ers are unable to successfully build their stadium in Santa Clara.
Just this week the Santa Clara City Council approved a June 8 ballot measure for voters to vote on a new stadium for the 49ers.
The idea of a shared stadium would not be revolutionary in the NFL. The New York Giants and Jets shared a stadium for several decades and are building a new stadium together in New Jersey that will be open for the 2010 season.
Alameda County Supervisor Gail Steele, who serves on the authority's board, said there has been talk of a new football stadium over the years.
"It has been out there," Steele said. "And now you have this whole problem with where are the 49ers going to go? Especially if they don't go to Santa Clara."
Steele said building a new stadium would likely ensure the Raiders stay in place for years to come, and that's something she strongly favors.
"The Raiders are Oakland," Steele said. "I think they're great for the city and for the county and would like them to stay here forever."
However, Steele said the one thing that will not be used in such a venture would be public funds. The city and county each currently pay about $10 million annually to pay for the upgrades to the Coliseum that were agreed upon to lure back the Raiders. After nearly 15 years of such payments, approximately $150 million is still owed.
For their part, Raiders officials seem pleased by the idea of a new stadium taking a step forward.
"The site on which we currently play is centrally located, with magnificent public transit alternatives, on a major freeway and presents an exciting location on which a new stadium can serve as the hub of a larger, urban redevelopment project," said Amy Trask, Raiders chief executive. "We have been communicating regularly with city, county and Joint Powers Authority representatives about our desire for a new, world-class stadium and the manner in which such a stadium can serve as a catalyst for regional economic growth."