Analyst: The Raiders will move to L.A. for these five big reasons
Floyd Kephart and his efforts to keep the Raiders in Oakland might come up short.
The Silver and Black's ultimate end game is relocation, according to CSN Bay Area's Ray Ratto.
Ratto, who calls Kephart's recent overtures "chin music" to pacify Oakland citizens, is skeptical of any confidential plans. The team could change its mind at any time, but Ratto listed these five reasons why owner Mark Davis would be foolish to turn down Los Angeles:
1. The Raiders are worth more in Los Angeles than in Oakland. By a lot.
2. Oakland has little in the way of incentives to keep the Raiders against Mark Davis’ financial benefit save guilt over the crimes of previous administrations, including the Al Administration (124-196 over the 20 years since their return, 56-136 since the last playoff appearance).
3. The San Diego Chargers are gung-ho for going to Carson, and their plan hinges on the Raiders going with them. Davis has to live with his fellow NFL owners a lot longer than he has to live with Oakland, and betraying a partner is the kind of sin that rich folks do not easily forgive.
4. The NFL office wants the problem of Los Angeles solved, and it wants the problem of the liquidity-poor Raiders solved. The Raiders’ situation, in fact, is far more worrisome than the problems in San Diego or St. Louis because those cities are further along in their likely-doomed plans to build new stadia than Oakland.
5. Roger Goodell is not David Stern, Oakland is not Sacramento, the Raiders are not the Kings, and Libby Schaaf is not Kevin Johnson -- though in some ways, not being Kevin Johnson is a positive boon.
It's bad news for any Oakland-area football fans to read. But Ratto is right to follow the dollars and connect the dots. Barring unforeseen changes, relocation might not be that far away.