Although the Oakland Raiders have long been mired in negotiations to stay home for the 2019 NFL season, it appears both sides have finally agreed to a deal.
The Raiders’ brass spent most of the offseason looking for a temporary home field for the 2019 campaign. Rumors had surfaced about a number of potential areas ranging from the Bay Area all the way down to Southern California.
Despite the reported mutual interest, it seemed like only a matter of time before team owner Mark Davis would be able to hash things out with Coliseum officials. It seems they finally have.
According to David DeBolt of the East Bay Times, the Raiders are set to play next season in Oakland:
BREAKING: Raiders to play 2019 season in Oakland. Coliseum Authority board votes to approve lease agreement.
This is certainly encouraging news for the longtime fans in Oakland after there was plenty of speculation regarding where the team would spend their last season before relocating to Las Vegas. Fortunately, the Raiders will now have an opportunity to bid their future former home a proper farewell.
Both sides have certainly come a long way since Davis even threatened to end negotiations when city officials decided to follow through on their lawsuit against the Raiders and the NFL for their looming departure. It did not take long for them to realize that playing their last season in Oakland was in everyone’s best interest.
Now that the Raiders officially agreed to stay in Oakland for another year, they can now focus on avoiding another nightmare like the one they suffered in the 2018 campaign. The front office has made some splashes in free agency and they will look to keep that momentum going into the 2019 NFL Draft.
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