Costa Mesa considering hosting Raiders training camp – NBC Los Angeles

The Las Vegas Raiders could make a temporary return to Southern California.

The silver and black franchise, which jumped from Oakland to Los Angeles and back to Oakland before landing in Las Vegas, would hold at least part of its preseason training camp at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Rica. Mesa according to a proposal. scheduled for consideration at this Orange County community’s city council meeting Tuesday.

“Costa Mesa is proud to be one of only two cities in the country to host an NFL team’s summer training camp at a public facility,” said Costa Mesa City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison. “Jack Hammett is a treasure and we are excited to potentially have a new NFL team training here.”

The team still maintains a strong fan base in Southern California, where the Raiders played at the LA Memorial Coliseum for 12 seasons, beginning in 1982. The team returned to Oakland before traveling to Las Vegas in 2020.

Under the one-year agreement under consideration, the team would use the sports complex’s fields from mid-July until August 11. The proposed deal would include improvements to the sports complex’s fields, a junior training camp and other contributions.

The Raiders are currently holding preseason training camp at the team’s practice facility in Henderson, Nevada. A move to Costa Mesa would mean five NFL teams with training camps in the area, as well as the Cowboys and Saints, and the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.

The Jack Hammett Sports Complex, named for a well-known figure in government and civic affairs in the city, was used by the University of Alabama when the Crimson Tide was preparing for the 2010 college national championship game at Rose Bowl. Florida State practiced at this expansive facility before the 2014 national championship game.

The Chargers and Costa Mesa had an agreement for the team to hold training camps at the facility through 2026, but the team informed the city in 2022 that 2023 would likely be the last at the complex with a move to a new training center in El Segundo. in the works.

“I am pleased to welcome the Las Vegas Raiders and their loyal fans, “Raider Nation,” to the great city of Costa Mesa for training camp this summer,” said Mayor John Stephens. “The Raiders and Costa Mesa share a commitment to excellence, and our partnership will greatly benefit the community. Many thanks to the Newport-Mesa School District, especially Costa Mesa High School, for partnering with us on this endeavor. To quote Al Davis, “Win, baby! »