The Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr knows what fans think about the dilapidated Oakland Coliseum, with the infield baseball at the start of the season, poor locker rooms and the lack of amenities now commonplace in the NFL stadiums.
“I laugh because it’s my home. It may not be perfect and meets the standards and all that, but it’s at home.” Carr said.
“This is where I started. I have experienced some of my favorite moments. When I hurt myself, just the love of the fans I felt and being taken outside the stadium to go X-ray, because there is no other way. I will never forget that.” Carr added.
The Raiders are expected to settle in Las Vegas in 2020, where they will play in a new stadium of 65,000 seats, which will cost $ 1.8 million.
The city of Oakland sued the Raiders earlier this month, which caused the Raiders to withdraw their offer to play next year. It is not excluded to return to the Coliseum, but we could also turn to San Francisco or Santa Clara (the stadiums of Giants and Niners).
Fans should know before the Super Bowl if they will reconnect with the “Black Hole”, their home for 24 years. The stadium was however inaugurated in 1966.
In the immediate future, players and coaches just want to savor what could be the last match at Oakland.
“I’m really sensitive on this issue. It’s going to be great like Christmas Eve, the Broncos. I’m excited. There is a lot of history here.” Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said.
Oakland Raiders beat Broncos 27-14 in their last match. (Source:www.rantsports.com)
The Coliseum is the last of the multi-sport stadiums that prevailed in the 1970s and 80s. The Raiders share it with the Athletics, from where the ground from the infield to the middle of the field each year, until the end of the baseball season. This is where Brett Favre scored four touchdown passes in the first half in 2003, the day after his father’s death.
The Raiders won the American championship game in 1976, before winning their first Super Bowl. They were also at home in January 2003, when they reissued in the American. To date, this remains their last victory in a playoff game.
