B.J. "Red" McCombs reportedly met with Raiders owner Mark Davis for 90 minutes during Davis' visit to San Antonio the weekend of July 18, and the Texas billionaire told the San Antonio Express-News he believes there is a "definite possibility" the Raiders relocate.
“I don't think it could have gone better,” McCombs told the newspaper on Wednesday, speaking of his meeting with Davis.
McCombs, who owned the Minnesota Vikings from 1998-2004, told the San Antonio Express-News that his family would buy into the franchise "if that's what it would take to get them here."
It is unclear if Davis would want local investors, should he consider the move.
"I told him if he wanted some, they wouldn't be hard to get," McCombs was quoted.
Davis acknowledged the San Antonio visit in a statement released by the team:
"I was in San Antonio to honor Cliff Branch on his induction into the PVILCA. Former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros is a friend, and Henry suggested I take the opportunity to meet with some of the city officials while we were in town. I have nothing further to discuss on the topic."
[REWIND: Raiders owner Mark Davis confirms San Antonio meeting]
The Express-News, which first reported the story linking the Raiders to San Antonio, obtained a copy of city manager Sheryl Sculley’s memo, which discusses details of Davis' meeting three weeks prior.
“I was asked to meet two weeks ago with the owner of the Oakland Raiders, Mark Davis, and members of his staff. Mr. Davis has expressed interest in a possible relocation of his NFL team to San Antonio and we are engaged in preliminary due diligence,” she wrote. “The agenda for this visit included a tour of the Alamodome and meetings with local business leaders.”
Cisneros appears to be the key figure.
“Mr. Davis was impressed by Henry — pure and simple,” McCombs told the newspaper. “I don't know whether it's a long way from a deal or whatever, but at least there was an opening there and we have a leader to take charge.
“For a guy to pick up and move from a place he's been as long as he's been there, that takes a lot,” McCombs said of Davis. “It may not happen. But you got to be in the game, you've got to give yourself a chance, and that's what Henry's doing.”
Davis told CSN California in March that he was committed to staying in Oakland, but had thought about other options if Bay Area stadium talks continued to remain stagnant.
