The Oakland Raiders are being sued by the city they are currently representing – but will soon desert.
Oakland City Attorney Barbara J. Parker recently made an announcement revealing the city’s decision to file a federal antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, the Raiders’ organization, and 31 other teams in the league for what Oakland deems as a collusive effort to force host locations to build stadiums funded by taxpayers’ money.
Via the official website of the Oakland City Attorney’s office:
The City Attorney recommended and the Oakland City Council authorized filing the lawsuit to recover damages resulting from the Raiders’ illegal move to Las Vegas, including lost revenue, money that Oakland taxpayers invested in the Raiders and other costs.
The franchise has long been reported as looking for a new home, which they hope to move in after the conclusion of the 2018 campaign – the same time their lease with the Oakland Alameda Coliseum will expire. That said, they have already made their intention to transfer to Las Vegas in 2020.
Parker also made it clear that the lawsuit is also seeking compensation from the NFL, which likely would reach into hundreds of millions of dollars.
“The Raiders’ illegal move lines the pockets of NFL owners and sticks Oakland, its residents, taxpayers and dedicated fans with the bill. The purpose of this lawsuit is to hold the defendants accountable and help to compensate Oakland for the damages the defendants’ unlawful actions have caused and will cause to the people of Oakland.”
The Raiders moved back to Oakland in 1995 after leaving the city for Los Angeles, where they had a 13-year stint from 1982-1994.
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