Overshadowed by the NFL Draft and the suspension of an MLB star Thursday, was the news that the Oakland Raiders are firmly committing to relocating to Las Vegas.
Of course, a plethora of things need to happen to make the move a reality, but if you’re a fan of the Raiders being in Oakland, this latest effort doesn’t look good.
During a presentation in front of the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee (SNTIC) on Thursday, [Mark] Davis pledged to put $500 million toward a new stadium in Las Vegas if the rest of the funding is ultimately approved by the Nevada State Legislature.
“Together we can turn the Silver State into the silver and black state,” Davis told the SNTIC,via the Associated Press.
Now the actual stadium would cost a projected $1.33 billion, so a $500 million pledge doesn’t even meet half the cost of what’s being proposed. However The Las Vegas Sands casino group and Majestic Realty also have their hands on the proposal, and knowing how filthy lucrative Vegas is, such a project could come to fruition.
The domed stadium would just be blocks from the strip, built on an empty 42-acre lot next to McCarran airport.
Here’s owner Mark Davis referring to the Raiders-to-Las Vegas proposal as something that “can be a great marriage.”
So what needs to happen? A lot.
Public funding for the stadium has to be approved by the Nevada State Legislature. They don’t meet again until February. By that time, the Chargers could make a move to Los Angeles like the Rams just did. However, if the Chargers stay in San Diego, the Raiders may have the option to move to the City of Angels.
Regardless of where they go, any Raiders move has to be approved by 24 of the 32 league owners.
Davis noted the Raiders played an exhibition game against Houston in Vegas in 1964, the only game ever played by a future NFL team in the city. That game sold out.
Based on the time it would take to get everything approved and build a new stadium, the Raiders will at least be in Oakland through the 2018 season.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of Crave Sports. Follow him on Twitter or like the channel on Facebook here.
