Oakland Raiders Stadium: City Council Votes In Favor Of $1.3 Billion Stadium Plan

The Oakland City Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of moving ahead with a plan to build a new $1.3 billion Oakland Raiders stadium. The seven-member council’s vote Tuesday night follows the Alameda County officials’ vote earlier the same day approving the deal that fans believe could help keep the NFL team in town.

Council member Rebecca Kaplan said the deal is bigger than football. “This isn’t just for sports fans. It’s economic development and jobs,” she said.

The city and county approvals allow the investment group headed by former player Ronnie Lott to negotiate a formal agreement for the proposed stadium, which will use $350 million in public funds. Lott also plans on resurrecting the current Oakland Coliseum in an effort to keep the Raiders from moving to Las Vegas.

He admitted, however, he doesn’t have Raiders owner Mark Davis’ approval yet.

“I think we'll get his blessing,” he told ABC7 News. “More important, it’s making sure we’re doing the right thing for the NFL.”

But Davis signaled he was leaning toward Vegas in October when Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill approving the construction of an estimated $2 billion stadium.

“Las Vegas has already done what they’re supposed to do,” Davis reportedly said. “We just have to present it to the NFL and get the approval to move to Las Vegas.” He previously said he is considering moving the team to Vegas as Oakland “came up with nothing, zero.”

The Raiders need the approval of 24 out of the 32 NFL owners to move to Vegas. They also have the option of sharing a facility in the Los Angeles area with the Rams.

On Tuesday, football fans, investors and other citizens urged the council before their vote to keep the Raiders at home.

“They’re winning, doing well,” a fan said. “They’re our team and we want to keep them.”

Oakland is still repaying its $100 million debt incurred from renovating the Coliseum in 1995 to woo the team back from Los Angeles.