It’s no secret that the NFL wants the Raiders out of the Oakland Coliseum. The NFL is expected to vote on a possible move to Las Vegas on Monday (more about that here) and one way or another, the NFL’s last multi-use stadium seems to be on its last legs.
That’s welcome news for NFL COO Tod Leiweke, who alleged that the stadium has “life safety issues.”
NFL COO Tod Leiweke: "Oakland's stadium is at a point it has life safety issues."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) March 22, 2017
To further is point, he added that players have wondered if the stadium should be allowed to host any games.
Tod Leiweke: "The visiting teams started to have mounting concerns about whether or not that was the facility that should even host a game."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) March 22, 2017
Anyone who’s ever been to the Coliseum knows of its issues. It’s not an aesthetically pleasing stadium. It’s had plumbing issues (significant plumbing issues, if we’re being honest). While it was once commonplace, it now looks ridiculous to see early season NFL games played on an MLB infield.
To say that the Coliseum needs to be replaced is not a particularly controversial stand.
But “life safety issues?” Players and fans are genuinely scared for their lives when going to the stadium?
What’s more likely?
Scenario A: Leiweke is speaking the absolute truth. Going to a game in Oakland can literally be hazardous to your health.
Scenario B: The NFL has long been frustrated with Oakland’s stadium situation and has tried to get it replaced, either in Oakland or another city. While the Vegas proposal is moving along, it’s not a done deal. So, rather than try to strong arm Oakland (or other cities) into coming through with a new stadium, the NFL uses a rather cheap guilt tactic.
Speaking from experience, Scenario A is is just not valid. Oakland’s stadium is a dump, but the issues there are not about “life safety.”
As we know now, just playing football is potentially a life safety issue. Playing the game at a run down stadium doesn’t add to to risk.