Davis Plays the Oakland Card Again

Tuesday, it was Oakland’s turn.

Three days after visiting Hollywood Park, site of a proposed $250-million football stadium, Raider owner Al Davis led an entourage to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to tour its facilities.

Officials in both places are trying to persuade Davis to sign an agreement to play at their respective sites.

But with a Raider home exhibition game scheduled in 8 1/2 weeks, the team still doesn’t have a home.

Davis appeared close to signing with Hollywood Park last Saturday, holding out only for guarantees that the stadium would be ready for the 1997 season opener. Oakland’s chances appeared to be dead.

But there was Davis and long-time assistant Al LoCasale and team attorney Amy Trask patiently waiting for the Oakland Athletics’ baseball game to end Tuesday so they could look at the former, and perhaps future, home of the Raiders.

Oakland officials have promised $85 million in improvements by the start of the ’96 season if Davis returns.

Those close to him say that the thought of playing two years, and perhaps more, in the L.A.Coliseum may be the biggest single factor keeping Oakland’s hopes alive.

Nothing was settled on Tuesday.