Sticking Point Holding Up Raiders Lease Negotiations With Oakland Coliseum

The Raiders are nearing a lease agreement to continue playing at Oakland Coliseum one more season at least, with steady progress since resuming talks.

Talks with the Coliseum Authority, however have hit a last-minute snag.

Executive director Scott McKibben made that clear to reporters after Wednesday morning's closed-session meeting of the Coliseum Authority board.

"On the business side, we're 95 percent there," McKibben said. "But there is this one big issue we need to get worked out."

McKibben didn't identify the point of conflict and wouldn't comment on particulars of the lease negotiations, but admitted this sticking point could jeopardize the pact.

"I will be going back to the Raiders to discuss that with them, and hopefully we'll be able to resolve it," McKibben said. "If we can't, there's a possibility we won't have a deal."

McKibben hopes to have the issue addressed by Tuesday, so the Coliseum Authority board can vote on a lease agreement for the 2019 season with an open for 2020. The Oakland City Council and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors would have to vote on the deal after that.

There's a hurdle remaining before that could happen, and McKibben said he would contact the Raiders later Wednesday in an attempt to work it out.

"It requires agreement by both of us, and we have a difference of opinion," McKibben said. "This could put us in position where there is not a deal."

McKibben also said the lease agreement, which would charge the Raiders $7.5 million in rent for the 2019 season and resolve past parking disputes, would net the public between $2-2.5 million.

The Raiders would like to play one more season in Oakland before relocating to Las Vegas in 2020, and their Oakland Coliseum lease option would only be used if there's an unforeseen delay in Las Vegas stadium construction.

Here's video of McKibben speaking with reporters on Wednesday morning.

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