Raiders’ Davis Using Sacramento to Gain Leverage in L.A., NFL Says

Raider owner Al Davis reportedly has had two meetings with Sacramento developer Angelo Tsakopoulos to discuss moving the football team to Sacramento if Davis is unable to resolve his dispute with Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum officials.

Tsakopoulos said that before his talks with Davis he called a meeting of area businessmen to discuss “putting together a package” of land and a stadium for the Raiders.

Among those attending the meeting, Tsakopoulos told the Sacramento Bee, were Sacramento Sports Assn. principals Joe Benvenuti and Gregg Lukenbill. Benvenuti is a majority owner of the Sacramento Kings basketball team. Lukenbill is managing partner of the Kings.

The Sacramento Sports Assn. owns the future site of a large indoor arena and an outdoor stadium. The facilities will not be completed until next year, at the earliest.

National Football League spokesman Joe Browne accused Davis of trying to “gain leverage” to win improvements at the Coliseum.