NFL that it brings a franchise back to Oakland, and becomes the first Black ownership group in the league’s history. " data-reactid="16">A group of mainly African-American business owners and community leaders have proposed to the NFL that it bring a franchise to Oakland and become the first group of black owners in the history of the league.
football comes as two other sports teams got their starts in The Town, a city that has long been at the forefront of activist movements. The prospective group is looking to capitalize on a passionate fan base left seeking a new franchise following the recent departures of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors (now based in San Francisco) and NFL’s Raiders (now based in Las Vegas). " data-reactid="17">The push to bring back football comes as two other sports teams made their debut in The Town, a city that has long been at the forefront of militant movements. The potential group is looking to capitalize on a fan base looking for a new franchise after the recent departures of the NBA Golden State Warriors (now based in San Francisco) and the NFL Raiders (now based in Las Vegas) ).
It was the fans who booed their team off the field after losing their last game at Oakland – out of passion for completely losing the franchise. Most of them spent two hours before each contest creating a gameday character, only to get a prize outside the Las Vegas stadium. And those who said that the families they had built by lining up each home game over the past two decades were “torn apart.”
Ray Bobbitt (left), pictured with Raiders superfan Violator, is part of a lobby group for an Oakland team. (Provided by Ray Bobbitt)
Does the group have the financial muscle to attract the attention of the NFL?
NFL, the African American Sports & Entertainment Committee proposes a privately financed expansion team and suggests the league should consider the current national moment and lend its support to the initiative." data-reactid="31">In a letter sent to the NFL, the African American Sports and Recreation Committee proposes an expansion team funded by private funds and suggests that the league should take into account the current national moment and support the initiative.
The group met informally about three months ago to discuss the creation of a new team in Oakland. The process accelerated after the assassinations of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for his public video addressing the national tragedies, and says is it “encouraged” that Goodell said he is listening to the Black community. In light of that, the group says that there is “no better location — symbolically and pragmatically” than Oakland for the new endeavor." data-reactid="33">In the letter, the group thanks NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for his public video on national tragedies, and says he is “encouraged” that Goodell has said he is listening to the black community. In light of this, the group says there is “no better place – symbolically and pragmatically” than Oakland for the new business.
“It would be very appropriate for us to be able to showcase the rich culture and history of Oakland and the Bay Area from a sport and entertainment perspective,” Ray Bobbitt, a member of the AASEC and owner of an Oakland business. “We believe that Oakland is just a unique opportunity for us to reinvent sport from the point of view that these are not institutions that serve the community through entertainment only. But we would also like to design a scenario in which we can be aware of how you can use it as a permanent economic vehicle and make major changes in our community. “
NFL confirmed it received the letter. The league didn’t respond to Yahoo Sports’ request for comment." data-reactid="35">The group said the NFL confirmed it had received the letter. The league did not respond to Yahoo Sports’ request for comment.
The proposal includes plans to form an educational partnership with UC Berkeley and Stanford University, as well as a sports and entertainment museum in the stadium to show Oakland’s long history of producing stars in their respective fields.
NFL rules require the principal owner to put up at least 30 percent of the purchase price in cash. Bloomberg estimates a buyer would have to pay at least $600 million initially to land a team at current valuations. Teams also have a $350 million debt limit. " data-reactid="37">AASEC detailed three ownership models in its proposal, as current NFL rules require the primary owner to pay at least 30% of the purchase price in cash. Bloomberg estimates that a buyer should spend at least $ 600 million initially to land a team at current valuations. The teams also have a debt limit of $ 350 million.
“We didn’t want our proposal to be immediately disqualified,” said Bobbitt. “We really wanted to force a dialogue on what they had committed to doing on television with the public, namely their participation in economic equality which is a component of social justice.”
NFL’s ownership requirements. The second option suggests that the NFL could allow for exceptions to its current policy in two areas: allowing the principal to borrow more funds than is currently permissible or allowing the principal to enlist additional (NFL-approved) investors to secure funding." data-reactid="39">The first option is to get a black primary owner with the financial resources to meet the NFL property requirements. The second option suggests that the NFL could allow exceptions to its current policy in two areas: allow the principal to borrow more funds than is currently authorized, or allow the principal to recruit additional investors (approved by the NFL) to obtain a funding.
The third option suggests a community ownership model similar to the Green Bay Packers.
NFL has now,” Bobbitt said. “So this would be an appropriate moment to make some concessions for us.”" data-reactid="45">“We think that right now, based on economic inequality, the African American community is unlikely to be able to meet some of the requirements of the NFL,” said Bobbitt. “So this would be a good time to make concessions for us.”
Outgoing teams do not paint a full picture of Oakland’s viability
Baseball’s Oakland A’s are in a years-long battle to stay in The Town. But the city has quietly remained a sports mecca for socially oriented teams, despite perceived hostility from local government." data-reactid="47">It seems counterintuitive that another team is trying to stake their ground in Oakland after the release of the Warriors and Raiders. Even the Major League Baseball Oakland A’s have been fighting for years to stay in town. But the city remained quietly a high place of sport for the teams with social vocation, in spite of the perceived hostility of the local government.
soccer team the Oakland Roots launched in 2018 with the realization that a new team couldn’t just “park a bus” in the city, co-founder Edreece Arghandiwal told Yahoo Sports last fall. " data-reactid="48">The professional football team launched by Oakland Roots in 2018 realized that a new team could not just “park a bus” in the city, co-founder Edreece Arghandiwal told Yahoo Sports last fall. .
“In a community like Oakland, you have people who are extremely polarizing, and who have a diversity of body and color, when it comes to arts and culture and things like that,” said Arghandiwal. “You can’t just throw money at these types of communities.”
soccer as a “vehicle for change.” Their team, which plays at Laney College, sold out every game of its first season, averaging just under 5,000 attendees. " data-reactid="50">Arghandiwal and his trading partner Benno Nagel, both from Oakland, decided to use football as a “vehicle for change”. Their team, which plays at Laney College, sold all of its first season games, with an average of just under 5,000 participants.
football team, the Indoor Football League’s Oakland Panthers, was gearing up to launch this spring before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Marshawn Lynch is a part-owner. The team’s name is an homage to Oakland’s involvement in the Black Panther movement of the 1960s." data-reactid="51">Another football team, the Oakland Panthers of the Indoor Football League, was preparing to launch this spring before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Marshawn Lynch is co-owner. The name of the team is a tribute to Oakland’s participation in the Black Panther movement of the 1960s.
NFL games. " data-reactid="52">The Panthers were to play at Oracle Arena (the longtime home of the Warriors), providing an affordable family experience, unlike the high prices that come with NFL games.
“We thought it was a great opportunity and a great facility, and the timing was right and in a good media market,” said Scott Yahoo McKibben, team president and former chief of the Oakland Alameda Coliseum Authority at Yahoo Sports in October. “It’s a market that really interests sponsors and TV broadcasters.”
The Bobbitt group is of the same opinion.
NFL-commissioned study that concluded that Oakland is ranked third among NFL markets in projected economic growth, and that its GDP alone is expected to be larger than San Francisco’s in the next 10-15 years." data-reactid="55">The AASEC letter cites a study commissioned by the NFL in 2016 which concluded that Oakland is ranked third among the NFL markets in terms of projected economic growth and that its GDP alone should be greater than that of San Francisco over the next 10 to 15 years.
“There is a misperception of the city government interest,” said Bobbitt. “I think they’ve actually always wanted sports teams here, and I think the main reason the two sports teams that actually left is because the city was unwilling to give public funds – c was really the determining factor in the development of the stadium and the development of the arena.
“I think Oakland, to their credit, was a city that said,” Hey, we have so many other problems that we can’t spend money like that. “”
So comes the plan funded by the private sector. The proposal builds on a recent trend in stadiums and arenas in the Bay Area, such as the Chase Center in San Francisco and Oracle Park.
NFL for damages. “So that’s why we fought so much.”" data-reactid="59">“It is not the fault of the community nor the fault of the fans [the Raiders and Warriors leaving] have to happen, “said Bobbitt, who led an effort to prevent the Raiders from leaving by pressuring the city of Oakland to sue the NFL for damages. “That’s why we fought so hard.”
