Raiders' Move to Las Vegas Heats Up

The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee (SNTIC) has voted unanimously to recommend $750 million in public funding for a $1.9 billion stadium, which has heated up rumors that the Oakland Raiders are moving to Vegas.

“We are excited,” said Raiders owner Marc Davis. “Thank you to the SNTIC.”

While the favorable vote definitely looks good for the Raiders prospects of moving to Vegas, there are still more steps that must be taken before this is a done deal.

According to ESPN, the SNTIC’s recommendation is for the $750 million to come through a hotel tax. But Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval must approve this measure by the end of the month.

If Sandoval approves, a special session of the state legislature will be called to vote on the financing plan.

Assuming the vote is ed, the Raiders can then request a move from the NFL, which would require 24 of the 32 league owners to vote yes.

As for where the rest of the money is coming from, Davis would front $500 million of the amount, which includes a loan from the NFL. Billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, has pledged $650 million towards the 65,000-seat domed stadium.

The actual location of the stadium hasn’t been determined yet, but one of the two proposals include the Bali Hai Golf Club (south of Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino). The other proposed spot is 62 acres of empty land west of the Mandalay Bay resort, located at the south end of the Vegas Strip.

Assuming everything falls into place for a Raiders’ move to Vegas, they plan to play in Oakland in 2017 and ’18, then make their move in 2019, when the $1.9 billion stadium would be complete.

Despite all of the talking and planning about the Raiders moving to Las Vegas, this doesn’t mean the team is necessarily done in Oakland.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said, “There is a long and complicated history between this team and this city. … We’ve learned from the mistakes of the past and we won’t repeat them. … Oakland is neither rolling over, nor giving up. … Now is the time for everyone in our region to pull together to show the NFL and the Raiders that their future is in Oakland.”

According to ProFootballTalk, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also said that he’d like to see other teams follow the model set forth by the Minnesota Vikings, who worked with the local community to get a stadium deal done.

One interesting element to all of this is that the talk no longer centers on Las Vegas as a gambling destination.

Previously, major pro sports franchises shied away from Vegas because they were worried about corruption. But it seems that these fears have subsided because people and players can bet on sports anywhere – not just Vegas – due to mobile technology.