Jerry Jones is one of the NFL’s most influential owners, and he was heavily involved in the decision to move the Rams to Los Angeles. Now Jones is talking about putting a team in Las Vegas.
With talk heading up that the Raiders could leave Oakland for Vegas, Jones (pictured in Las Vegas last weekend) said today that he’s open to the idea. Via Todd Archer of ESPN, Jones said he would welcome a discussion of a Vegas move, and he said the city’s status as America’s gambling capital shouldn’t dissuade the league from playing there.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is talking openly about the possibility of the Raiders coming to town. A plan is in place for a new domed stadium that would include $500 million from the Raiders, $150 million from the Sands Corporation and $750 million from Nevada taxpayers. If that deal is approved, more owners may be ready to give it the green light.
If Oakland agrees to spend taxpayer dollars on a new stadium for the Raiders, the Raiders will stay put. But that doesn’t appear likely. And at the moment, Las Vegas appears to be the most likely contender to take Oakland’s place as the Raiders’ home town.