On December 30, 2015, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf sent a letter to NFL Executive Vice President Eric Grubman with an update on the progress Oakland has made in the City’s efforts to keep the Raiders in Oakland.
The letter was signed by Mayor Schaaf and Alameda County Board of Supervisors’ President Scott Haggerty as the City of Oakland and Alameda County co-own the land where the existing stadium is currently located, and where a future site for the Raiders is being discussed.
The letter was written in response to the league’s universal request for proposals from the three cities – Oakland, St. Louis and San Diego – whose teams have expressed interest in seeking relocation to Los Angeles. While the City of Oakland was asked to respond, there was no expectation that Oakland would submit a fully formed proposal given the complexities of its situation.
The letter sent by the City and County focused on seven key areas, including: an outline of Oakland’s strength as an NFL market; the fact that Oakland has an approved stadium project at one of the best sports facility locations in America; our willingness to use development value and limited public tools to help get a deal done; and the commitment of all parties to work towards keeping the team in Oakland in a manner that works for the team and the fans, and is responsible to the taxpayers.