SAN ANTONIO -- I can't decide whether it's amazingly coincidental or strangely weird that the Oakland Raiders' color scheme is silver and black. I just can't seem to wrap my brain around that. Are the San Antonio Raiders meant to be?
Does anyone else know of another city that has two professional teams that boast the same look? If I can talk like a teen for a second… That would be like the coolest thing ever!
But then I remember all the things people have been telling me since I moved here almost five years ago...
1. Jerry Jones would never let an NFL franchise move to San Antonio.
2. This city is more Dallas Cowboys crazy than DFW, itself.
3. Fans didn't even fill the dome when the New Orleans Saints were here on a temporary basis.
4. Houston Texans owner Bob McNair wouldn't want another AFC team that close to Houston.
5. The Spurs love being who they are.
When the Raiders relocation story was a hot topic the first time, the general thought was that citizens would support the economics of an NFL franchise. That's easy to suggest when excitement dominates your initial reaction.
But taking a family of four to a pro football game for the full experience just eight times is gonna reach deep into the hip pocket. Measure that against your beloved Spurs and season ticket packages. You're asking San Antonio to go someplace they have never been.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see the dome or a new future venue filled to capacity. Continued market research, obviously, will help dictate that.
And I want to know how the Spurs see this issue? Do they want to share their market? Would owner Peter Holt embrace the Raiders? Could Raiders owner Mark Davis and Holt decide to do business together? We have to remember that the Spurs are not the hot sports ticket in the city. They are THE sports ticket in the city, and they very much enjoy being that.
Their entertainment dollar would be in competition with the NFL in October (NBA preseason games), November, December, and even January. Yup, the NFL regular season wraps up in the first weekend of the new year. It almost seems like a partnership is the best way to go.
I'm sure you've heard Red McCombs' comments this week. They were exciting to hear. He sounded invested to me. We now wait to see whether Davis thinks the deal is sweet enough to move what is arguably one of the NFL's best-known brands from the west coast to South Texas.
The last time the Dallas Cowboys held training camp at the Alamodome was my first year in San Antonio. I learned then what I needed to know about this city and their love for America's Team. There were more than 20,000 fans showing up to watch practice. Not just the first day as you might immediately think, but every day. It felt like a game-day atmosphere. So I wonder what Jerry's take would be?
There are so many people I look forward to hearing from! Especially the San Antonio t-shirt companies that already have black shirts and silver letters to make it a smooth transition. Much smoother than the NFL relocation process.
