Team open to playing in Oakland until 2020

The Raiders appear open to playing in Oakland through 2020 as they hedge their bets on when their new Las Vegas stadium will be completed.

Coliseum Authority Executive Director Scott McKibben told the San Francisco Chronicle he’s had discussions with Raiders President Marc Badain about the team staying in Oakland for three more years after this season.

But in an interview Tuesday morning with the Bay Area News Group, McKibben strongly downplayed previous reports saying he’s had formal talks with the Raiders about extending the lease beyond the 2018 season. McKibben said he had a brief, informal conversation with Badain six weeks ago.

Any formal negotiations would not happen until after the Raiders sort out the team’s agreement with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, which is 2 to 3 months away, McKibben said.

“Right now, it would be fruitless for us to sit down,” McKibben said.

The Raiders planned to begin play in their $1.9 billion Las Vegas home in 2020 but seem to be acknowledging that timetable may be a bit optimistic.

“For sure, we are talking about a one-year extension (for 2019), and there’s a real likelihood we could be talking about two years,” McKibben told the Chronicle.

Clark County (Nevada) Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak said it’s understandable the Raiders are exercising caution regarding their new, 65,000-seat Las Vegas stadium.

“I’m sure they’re just trying to be cautious because it’s such a tight timeline,” Sisolak told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I knew they were looking at something for 2019, and Oakland would be ideal for them, obviously.

“I don’t know if they wanted to add a year to be safe, but we’re still on target to get (the stadium) done by 2020.”

Oakland City Council President Larry Reid, who doubles as vice chair of the Coliseum Authority, has been the most outspoken opponent to granting the Raiders more playing time at the Coliseum but even he seems open to the idea of an extension.

Reid has long felt if the Raiders are abandoning Oakland, he doesn’t want to help them solve their temporary playing site issues beyond 2018. Reid, though, told the Chronicle he hoped the authority’s bargaining power will lead to an increase of the Raiders’ current $3.5 million yearly lease at the Coliseum.