The Oakland Raiders missed out on this offseason’s Los Angeles sweepstakes, but that does not mean they are staying put. Las Vegas recently emerged as a potential destination for the franchise.
An investment group, led by Las Vegas Sands Corp. and its controversial CEO Sheldon Adelson, is proposing to fund a $1 billion stadium project that would house the UNLV football team, and possibly an NFL franchise.
The Rams and the Chargers have cemented themselves as the NFL’s choice to recolonize Los Angeles, and this leaves the Raiders scrambling to find a way out of Oakland, or persuade taxpayers to foot the bill for a new stadium.
The Las Vegas proposal is apparently substantial enough to have caught Raiders owner Mark Davis’ eye. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Davis is scheduled to meet with Adelson on Friday to discuss the plans.
#Raiders source: Not confirming or denying report team officials will travel to Las Vegas Friday to scout out 42-acre stadium site
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) January 28, 2016
Las Vegas is still a bit of a black sheep city for sports leagues. The gambling laws and its resulting contribution to the reputation of the city have kept it from hosting a major American pro sports team on a permanent basis. Still, the NBA is opening up its stance on gambling, and it might make sense for the NFL to grab the torch that Adam Silver has lit.
Thought: Las Vegas is terrific spot for a team. NFL plays in London (where gambling legal), time to rethink LV. Aversion to LV antiquated.
— Amy Trask (@AmyTrask) January 18, 2016
However perfect the Raiders to Las Vegas fit may seem, keep in mind this likely just a leverage play by Davis. Oakland will hold firm on refusing to fund a new stadium with taxpayer money if the franchise has no other option, but the city might start to bend if the team suddenly starts flirting with another suitor.
Wait…people in Vegas aren't actually falling for this Raiders-to-Vegas okey doke, are they?
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) January 28, 2016
Vegas probably knows it’s getting played, but doesn’t hurt to show Raiders around, and you never know
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 28, 2016
Told by source idea of #Raiders moving to Vegas is very real. Mark Davis and Sheldon Adelson have been discussing it for two years.
— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) January 29, 2016
In order to make Oakland jealous, Davis needs to do a little flirting with the not-so-cute billionaire at the bar. Then, maybe Oakland will finally reconsider its position. If they are smart, city leadership will ignore this latest maneuver. The plans are in the very earliest of stages, no matter how big a game Las Vegas is talking.
Although the Raiders actively weighing many options, it seems though that it’s likely they’ll be back in Oakland for at least one more year.
Nothing is happening in L.A. this year one way or the other. Time to regroup and plan for 2017. https://t.co/SPFVyuzA09
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 29, 2016
[photo: US Sporting Times]
