Raiders owner Mark Davis seems intent on moving his NFL team to Las Vegas. But despite a deal to secure public financing for a new stadium in Sin City, Davis may be running into a sizable road block that could scuttle chances of bringing the Raiders to town.
According to Ari Rabinovitch of Reuters, casino owner Sheldon Adelson said he’s willing to walk away from the commitment to the Raiders unless he’s able to secure better terms on a deal with the franchise.
“They want so much,” Adelson said. “So I told my people, ‘Tell them I could live with the deal, I could live without the deal. Here’s the way it’s gonna go down. If they don’t want it, bye-bye.”
Adelson has played a significant role in getting legislation passed to raise $750 million in public money for the construction of a new stadium in Las Vegas. Additionally, he’s pledged $650 million of his own funds to the project.
Davis has spoken glowingly about Las Vegas. He’s referred to the city as the “new home for the entire Raider Nation” and lamented Oakland’s inability to provide a successor venue to the Oakland Coliseum. However, the path to southern Nevada may not be as free and clear as he once hoped.