Paul Gosal, of Tracy, hands out signs to fans before the Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers game at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) ( JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO )

OAKLAND -- Don't expect the Raiders to pack their silver and black bags just yet.

While team owner Mark Davis stunned fans this week by refusing to commit to playing in Oakland next season after losing his Los Angeles relocation bid, NFL rules complicate any attempt to leave town in a huff.

In fact, the team would need league approval to play anywhere other than O.co Coliseum next season, even Levi's stadium in Santa Clara, where that city's mayor set out the welcome mat.

And, according to a league source, Davis would have to file a new relocation application if he wanted to leave the Bay Area. The application he filed earlier this month seeking to move to Los Angeles is not transferrable, the source said.

An Oakland Raiders fan holds a "stay" sign during their NFL game against the against the Kansas City Chiefs at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif, on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) ( JANE TYSKA )

"I would have to see something that would change the essential nature of the universe to have the Raiders playing at anywhere other than O.co Coliseum next season," said Andy Dolich a sports business consultant and former executive with several Bay Area teams.

While the Raiders may soon become football's biggest free agent, they haven't completely turned their back on their current home. Team President Marc Badain is tentatively scheduled to meet with the head of the authority that runs the Coliseum in what could be the precursor to another one-year lease extension for the team.

"We'll sit down one day next week and review what the next steps might be," said Scott McKibben, executive director the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Joint Powers Authority.


McKibben said he reached out to Badain Wednesday, one day after NFL owners denied the Raiders' Los Angeles bid, and was told that it would be better to wait a few days.

"I'm sure they're cooling off a bit," McKibben said.

Davis laid bare his frustration in getting a stadium deal done in Oakland Tuesday night shortly after NFL owners voted to return the Rams to Los Angeles and give the San Diego Chargers an option to join them.

Rather than recommit to striking a deal in Oakland, Davis, who did not return phone calls Wednesday, opined that his team could relocate outside California or even the country.

Those comments angered many fans who criticized him on Twitter and Facebook and called on him and his mother to sell the team.

If cooler heads are to prevail, it could start with a lease extension for 2016. The Coliseum Authority is scheduled to discuss anticipated negotiations during a closed-door meeting Friday.

The Raiders pay less than $1 million in annual rent under their soon-to-expire one-year lease. But the team also must share game day revenues with the Oakland A's who control concessions at the Coliseum -- a major bone of contention for the Raiders.

Local officials said they expected the Raiders to stay in Oakland this year while talks continue on a new stadium. However, they're not completely prepared to call Davis' bluff.

"You can never tell with (him)," Councilman Larry Reid said. "They're definitely a little upset with what happened."

Contact Matthew Artz at 510-208-6435.