Raiders News: Ronnie Lott ‘Optimistic’ Ownership Group Keeps Team In Oakland

There has been a lot of speculation in the last couple years about whether the Oakland Raiders will remain in Oakland, or leave to return to Los Angeles like the Rams did, or become the first professional football team to call Las Vegas home.

One former player who has been very vocal in advocating that he would like the Raiders to stay in Oakland is Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott, who played 10 career seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, two with the Los Angeles Raiders and two with the New York Jets.

It appears that for the Raiders to remain though they would need a new stadium, and according to Vic Tafur of SF Gate Lott has been trying to help with that:

The former 49ers and Raiders Hall of Fame defensive back said he has been meeting regularly with the city and the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, which jointly own the property that is home to the Coliseum and Oracle Arena.

Lott also said he is optimistic that owner Mark Davis will find a way to keep the team in Oakland, where it has been since 1995:

“I have a lot of respect for Mark,” Lott told The Chronicle on Tuesday in his first public comments on the subject. “We have a great relationship. I think the city and county will find a way to get this done, and Mark and the Raiders can continue to be an important part of this community.”

A decision on what Davis and the Raiders plan to do will likely come later this season, as Lott and others continue to work to get a new stadium in Oakland.