OAKLAND (KRON) — Ronnie Lott’s new stadium deal for the Oakland Raiders was passed Tuesday by city and county officials, but not everyone is a fan of the plan.
NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman told USA TODAY Sports that the plan was a “carbon copy” of last year’s failed efforts involving a Raiders stadium proposal and a private investor, including businessman Floyd Kephart.
“I think the intentions are good,” Grubman said Tuesday at the league meetings. “But I don’t think there’s been any progress that suggests a breakthrough anytime soon.”
When asked about the Grubman’s negative comments, Lott made it clear that the $1.3 billion stadium deal “is not a carbon copy.”
“I’ve been in the NFL for a long time. For any executive to put me in that category, I find a little offensive,” Lott said.
The Oakland City Council and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved the plan Tuesday that will allow them to begin talking with an investment group to get the money needed to build a new stadium.
Team owner Mark Davis already committed to moving the Raiders to Las Vegas, where a $1.9 billion stadium project has been approved. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has vowed to continue working on a counter-proposal to try to keep the team in Oakland.
A move to Nevada is not certain, although a vote by the NFL on whether to allow the move is possible as soon as January. The Raiders must get approval from 24 of the 32 NFL owners to move.