Yesterday, the EBX’s Robert Gammon reported on how the Coliseum Authority was set to vote today on whether to allow current operator SMG to continue running the complex. The alternative would be to allow open bids, presumably from several other powerhouse companies such as AEG, Global Spectrum, and Live Nation.

The good news, according to the Trib’s Angela Woodall, is that that open bidding is happening. It won’t improve the experience much at team sports events, but it should help for concerts and other team sports, plus it should make those dates when events are occurring at both facilities much smoother. SMG has been notorious for not promoting Oracle Arena for concerts in order to reduce costs, though they have improved over the last few years.

In other news, Alameda County has chosen to bite the bullet and pay to continue operating its redevelopment agency. That doesn’t necessarily help Oakland, since Alameda County can only influence projects done on unincorporated land or land partly owned via a joint powers authority. It’s another sign that the legal threats being floated by various cities are just a bunch of talk, with the cities truly being forced to pay to play.