Raiders Choose Oakland; Deal Not Final

Al Davis has decided to move the Los Angeles Raiders back to Oakland, but the deal will not be finalized until legal details are worked out, the Los Angeles Times has learned.

Amy Trask, a Raiders lawyer, had reservations this morning on a flight to Oakland, where she will attempt to complete a transaction that could leave Los Angeles without a National Football League team for the first time in 49 years.

Reports from the Bay Area Wednesday that the Raiders move was a “done deal” were premature simply because Davis has made such decisions before - and then changed his mind.

Less than two weeks ago, Davis tentatively agreed to a lucrative offer from Hollywood Park to play in a $250 million stadium in Inglewood that would host two Super Bowls. But on the morning of the celebration party, he said he needed more time to think about it.

Sources say if this decision is indeed final, it would be because Davis became overwhelmed with concerns that construction of the new stadium would not be completed by 1997, forcing him to spend three years in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

When Davis’ request for monetary guarantees was denied by both the league and Hollywood Park, he decided he would be more comfortable moving back to the smaller market where he and his team were revered for 22 years.

The league is expected to convene an owner’s meeting within the next few weeks to allow Davis to plead his case for a move. If his request is denied, the league could sue, but such action could not stop Davis from moving this season. The Raiders would be leaving town on the heels of the Rams, who left Anaheim for St. Louis earlier this year.

Los Angeles fans now face the prospect of not having a pro football team for at least one, and perhaps two, seasons. The league intends to bring one existing and one expansion team to the area, but only after construction begins on a stadium.

The league is expected to reopen negotiations with Hollywood Park officials, but, without ties to the Raiders, the racetrack becomes only one of several stadium candidates.

Michael Eisner, Disney chairman, and Michael Ovitz, Creative Artists Agency chairman, have contacted the league with ideas for stadiums.

Rose Bowl officials and a long-shot group from Long Beach also have expressed interest. Leading relocation candidates are the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Davis’s problems with the Hollywood Park deal, which seemed so promising just a month ago, are:

He is not convinced an Environmental Impact Report could be done in time for the stadium construction to begin in Inglewood in November.

Even if construction begins as scheduled, Davis is not convinced it could be completed by 1997.

He dislikes the idea of playing in the Coliseum for two more years, and cannot stand the thought of remaining there for a third season if the new stadium is delayed.

He is worried that once he commits to staying in Los Angeles, he must hire a marketing department, openly promote his players and become more receptive to the public.

Davis refused to confirm or deny having made a final decision.