Raiders threaten to leave Oakland early [View all]

Oakland lining up lawsuit against Raiders, so team threatens to leave town early

The Oakland City Council has authorized a multimillion-dollar antitrust lawsuit against the NFL and the Raiders over the team’s impending move to Las Vegas — legal action that Coliseum officials said could result in the team leaving Oakland at the end of the upcoming season.

Oakland Councilman Noel Gallo said Tuesday that the lawsuit is expected to be filed and announced within days, probably before the Raiders’ home opener at the Coliseum on Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams.

The team has been working on a new deal to play at the (Oakland) Coliseum next season and possibly the one after that if their Las Vegas stadium isn’t ready. According to sources, that deal — expected to be voted on by the authority’s board within a matter of weeks — would net the city and county $3.7 million next year and $5 million the following year, if the team extended its stay.

Oakland’s decision to sue was made within the past week without the approval of either the Coliseum directors or the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Oakland-lining-up-lawsuit-against-Raiders-so-13204582.php