Raiders in talks with Giants about playing at AT&T Park in 2019
ALAMEDA, Calif. — As the Raiders explore options for their 2019 home stadium, the answer could be across the bridge.
The San Francisco Giants confirmed multiple reports Friday that the MLB team and the Raiders have begun preliminary discussions about the Raiders playing at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Such talks, however early, only underscore the chance that Monday’s game against the Denver Broncos might be the franchise’s last at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The Raiders have played at the Coliseum in 40 of their 59 years.
Their stadium lease is due to expire after this season.
“There has been initial interest expressed in exploring the opportunity of the Raiders playing at AT&T Park,” the Giants said in a statement. “Many details would need to be figured out. The Giants want to do what’s best for Bay Area fans and would be open to the concept, just as we hosted Cal Football in 2011 when Memorial Stadium in Berkeley was being renovated.”
San Francisco Giants confirm early talks with Raiders. AT&T Park could host team in 2019. “The Giants want to do what’s best for Bay Area fans and would be open to the concept.” https://t.co/6NDbeBNHng
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 21, 2018
The Raiders long hoped to remain at the Coliseum until their scheduled 2020 relocation to Las Vegas.
The landscape, however, shifted to some effect this month when the city of Oakland filed a federal antitrust and breach of contract lawsuit against the NFL and all 32 of its franchises, seeking a return of lost revenue following what it claimed to be an “unlawful conspiracy” to move to Southern Nevada.
The team promptly rescinded its lease-extension offer to play at the Coliseum for $7.5 million in 2019.
An emotional atmosphere is expected at Monday’s game.
“Probably the best we’ve ever had,” quarterback Derek Carr said Thursday. “With this possibly being the last game in the Coliseum, that’s weird to me. This is home. I was drafted here. I’ve played on this dirt. I’ve got a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Broke bones out there, won some great games, had some memories. It’s weird to think that this could possibly be the last game.
“I don’t want that. I know I don’t. I know our fans don’t. But the fact that it could possibly be, I think that it’s going to be a great atmosphere.”
Regardless of the city’s lawsuit or their 2019 home, the Raiders remain on pace to move to Las Vegas in 2020. The city is scheduled to host the NFL draft that same year.
AT&T Park, which probably would hold 38,000 to 40,000 for football, is in the San Francisco 49ers’ territorial market. Should discussions advance, the 49ers would have to approve any move.
A Raiders spokesman did not return a request for comment.
NBC Bay Area first reported Friday that AT&T Park is a “distinct possibility” for the Raiders.
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Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GehlkenNFL on Twitter.
