McCombs touts Raiders' visit as 'sincere'

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Billionaire B.J. “Red” McCombs believes Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis' visit to San Antonio last month was a sincere effort to gauge whether it's a viable NFL market and that he returned to the Bay Area with a favorable impression of the city and its leaders.

“I don't think it could have gone better,” McCombs said Wednesday.

In his first public comments after his 90-minute meeting with Davis, McCombs told the San Antonio Express-News his family would be interested in buying into the Raiders “if that's what it would take to get them here.”

McCombs, though, was quick to add he isn't sure whether Davis would want local investors.

“But I told him if he wanted some, they wouldn't be hard to get,” said McCombs, who owned the Minnesota Vikings from 1998 through the 2004 season.





Here are 9 reasons why the Raiders should come to San Antonio. The Oakland Raiders have spoken with top city officials about moving the historic franchise to the Alamo City.



Here are 9 reasons why the Raiders should come to San Antonio. The Oakland Raiders have spoken with top city officials about moving the historic franchise to the Alamo City. Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close McCombs touts Raiders' visit as 'sincere' 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

Davis and two high-ranking members of the Raiders front office met with San Antonio civic and business leaders on the weekend of July 18 to discuss the potential of moving his team to the Alamo City. In addition to McCombs, Davis met with former-Mayor Henry Cisneros, the architect of the meeting; then-Mayor Julian Castro; City Manager Sheryl Sculley; Spurs chairman Peter Holt and several others.

With the Raiders' lease in Oakland set to expire after the 2014 season and stadium talks stalled in the Bay Area, Davis' visit to San Antonio sparked speculation he is using the city to gain leverage back home.

But McCombs said he believes there is a “definite possibility there may be a relocation” and that “it's a myth that San Antonio is a bargaining chip.” Davis' relationship with Cisneros also gives San Antonio an advantage should the Raiders decide to leave California, McCombs said.

“Mr. Davis was impressed by Henry — pure and simple,” McCombs said. “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.”

Cisneros' son-in-law, Brad Badger, is in corporate sponsorship sales with the Raiders after an 11-year NFL career as an offensive lineman that included five seasons with the Raiders.

“Most people don't have any clue what Henry's leadership means in terms of opportunities for San Antonio,” McCombs said. “His leadership is just head and shoulders above others in selling (San Antonio). I am so glad that he has taken a role in this.

“The biggest thing on our side is that Henry has the contacts, has the perfect entree, has the credibility and has the ability (to woo the Raiders). What we should be doing instead of trying to pick a deal apart that isn't even a deal yet, is to rally behind Henry and offer support, do anything he needs to see where we can go with this.”

McCombs said Davis also was “very impressed” with Sculley, but he stressed Cisneros' relationship with Davis is one of the city's biggest recruiting tools.

“I can't tell you how important he is,” McCombs said of the former Clinton Administration cabinet member. “I can remember when Henry was mayor, and the mayor of New York left a meeting he was in and got up and embraced Henry and said, 'God, I'm glad you came up here.' I saw that happen more than once — with the biggest companies that we called on.

“Henry is a very modest and humble guy. People don't think that because he's gotten a lot of publicity. People like him and they want to do things for him. You can't buy that.”

While he acknowledged the odds are seemingly stacked against San Antonio landing the Raiders, McCombs believes the city is well positioned to be in contention given the area's economic growth and Cisneros' leadership.

“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.”

torsborn@express-news.net