The Last Vegas Raiders will have their annual training camp in Costa Mesa this summer.
The City Council Tuesday night approved a one-year deal to let the NFL team use six fields at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex on Fairview Road for a portion of its training camp from July 19 to Aug. 11.
Mayor John Stephens said the Raiders bring another level of notoriety to Costa Mesa.
The Los Angeles Chargers, who’ve held training camp at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex since 2017, told city officials in March it would not use the facility this year. The Chargers are opening a new practice facility this summer in El Segundo.
The Raiders will pay the city $165,000 to use the facility along with spending $600,000 to improve two fields to bring them to “current NFL standards.” Lucas Paule, an attorney for the Raiders, said that work will include redoing irrigation systems and flattening and resurfacing the fields.
City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison said Tuesday that bringing the Raiders’ training camp to Costa Mesa is estimated to bring in $1.3 million in taxes.
As part of the agreement, the Raiders will give 100 tickets to local students to attend a preseason game, replace fitness equipment at Costa Mesa High School and donate $10,000 to a local youth sports group.
Paule said the team is in discussions to use some of Costa Mesa High School’s facilities as well.
While the agreement is for one year, the Raiders will have the option to notify the city if the team is interested in using the field again in 2025.
The team will be able to begin using the fields on June 4 to begin preparations for training camp.
