Now that Las Vegas has the attention of the NFL and the Raiders, the question becomes whether Las Vegas will do enough to turn flirtation into something much more than that.
That question could largely be determined by a special session of the Nevada legislature, which could happen later this summer.
As one source with knowledge of the dynamics in Nevada recently explained it to PFT, Governor Brian Sandoval (who has the authority to call a special session) and other politicians are strongly opposed to the proposed $750 million contribution, wanting that number to be $200 million or more lower than that.
Ultimately, the question becomes how badly Nevada wants an NFL team, and whether it can still lure a team like the Raiders (or the Chargers) with $550 million instead of $750 million in public contributions.
With the Chargers now looking less likely to get a stadium built in San Diego, Nevada has an opportunity to pit the Raiders and Chargers against each other, perhaps luring the Chargers for $550 million in lieu of getting the Raiders for $750 million -- or possibly squeezing the Raiders down to $550 million.
The NFL, which usually is the one squeezing multiple potential partners in order to get the best possible deal for the league, won’t be thrilled with being on the inside of the vise. But with little or no public money available in most American cities, Las Vegas should be able to get one team or the other for a lot less than $750 million.