Post by TheShadow on Aug 16, 2005 18:34:47 GMT -5
insidebayarea.com
By Jerry McDonald, STAFF WRITER
NAPA — Alameda County supervisor Gail Steele and Oakland City Council president Ignacio De La Fuente attended an Oakland Raiders practice Monday morning as the invited guests of club CEO Amy Trask, with all parties expressing hope their financially troubled relationship can be salvaged.
"I think we're getting to know each other and trying to do something to let everybody know that we're part of the team," Steele said.
Local government and the Raiders are trying to come up with a plan to re-market Personal Seat Licenses, which have fallen to a low of 29,500 from a high of 35,000 in 1995.
PSLs, which cost between $250 to $4,000, secure the right to buy season tickets and were expected to provide the revenue to pay off a $225 million loan that financed the Raiders' return from Los Angeles 10 years ago.
Without the sellouts that were anticipated when the deal was completed, fans have been allowed to buy season tickets without PSLs for the last nine years.
The business failures prompted a lawsuit and a countersuit.
Only in the last year, according to Steele and De La Fuente, have the politicians and the Raiders begun working together.
"I think progress has been made," De La Fuente said. "I think any time the principals talk, and not the lawyers, I think that's progress."
The original PSLs were for 10 years, and PSL holders could be asked to buy a five-year PSL at 75 percent of the cost of the original license if talks between the Raiders and government fail.
None of the parties would divulge specifics of their discussions.
Steele, the Coliseum Authority chairwoman, stressed making sure original PSL holders were taken care of while at the same time making sure the stadium is full and making sure the Raiders get their revenue.
If and when an agreement is forthcoming is not clear.
"We're in the fourth quarter, and we need a Hail Mary," Steele said. "We would have liked to have this done last year, but the point is not to panic. The point is to come up with something."
De La Fuente, a mayoral candidate, said it was not a "crisis situation."
Trask said she is willing to wait for the best plan. "It's more important to come up with the correct solution rather than the quick solution," Trask said.
EXTRA POINTS: Tight end Courtney Anderson was excused from the afternoon practice to be present for the birth of his child. ... Quarterback Andrew Walter missed Monday's workouts due to a strained groin. He is expected back today. ... Backup center and long snapper Adam Treu returned to practice but was limited to light duty. ... The team will hold a light drill this morning, regular practices today and Wednesday morning before flying to Houston to practice against the Texans.