The Oakland A's are making serious noise about extending their lease at the Oakland Coliseum, but the city reportedly intends to lock up a deal with the Raiders before they consider the Athletics' proposal.
According to Sports Business Daily, the city of Oakland is attempting to engage with Raiders owner Mark Davis over a new stadium deal in the immediate future, and they won't discuss a renewal with the A's until the situation with the Raiders is settled.
The Raiders' stadium lease was scheduled to expire at the end of 2013, but a one-year "band-aid" agreement extended their stay at the Coliseum until the end of the 2014 season. With the A's also nearing the end of their lease, the baseball team's ownership has tried to set things in motion for a 10-year extension that would see them remain at the Coliseum until 2024.
Under the terms of the deal, the A's would pay for the majority of their lease with $10-12 million stadium improvements, including a new main scoreboard and improved smaller ones between the lower and upper decks.
While the deal would please the majority of A's fans, who want the team to remain in Oakland, the Raiders are less enthusiastic about sharing the Coliseum. The city of Oakland will try to placate those concerns and come to an agreement with the Raiders before they address the A's proposal.
