Nevada senate passes Las Vegas stadium bill

Posted by Mike Florio on October 11, 2016, 10:18 PM EDT
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The Raiders have moved another step closer to moving to Las Vegas. If they can get permission from the NFL.

Via the San Francisco Chronicle, the Nevada senate voted 16-5 to pass a stadium bill. The plan would contribute $750 million in public money toward the project, funded by a hotel and motel tax.

Even if the political process in Nevada culminates in the bill becoming law, the Raiders will need a total of 24 owners to approve a relocation.

As noted on Sunday night, a fight is brewing among ownership regarding whether it makes sense to put an NFL team in Las Vegas. That could make it harder for the Raiders to get the votes necessary to move, possibly setting the stage for an attempt by owner Mark Davis to move without approval.

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88 responses to “Nevada senate passes Las Vegas stadium bill”

  5. Mark Davis doesn’t need “permission” from the NFL to move his team. All he has to do is what his dad, Al Davis, did. Flip the NFL your middle finger and move your team anywhere you damn well please.

  7. I love Vegas, but with $33 nightly resort fees , parking fees , regular taxes on rooms it really does add up how much more will be added on after funding this stadium?

  8. Why stop it ?
    Iv’e ben there “VEGAS” before , can’t go anyplace
    “i mean ANYPLACE ” without having some sort of gambling going on “BATHROOM STALLS “..
    Even your hotel rooms ” can gamble off the TV “.

    YES be nice to have a place to go without the presure of gambling. + let the people enjoy something eles besides Gambling

  9. vegas is practically bending over and saying stick as many as you can up there . this is a sweetheart deal for the raiders. davis nor any nfl team will ever get a deal quite like this. mainly because such people with such pockets rarely if ever congregate in such a place other than vegas. plus, california has 4 teams they can afford to lose one

  11. I don’t think they really need the NFL to ‘let’ them.

    What’s the league going to do, kick them out? Play with 31 teams for a year? Rush to get another franchise in place.

    If the Raiders can get a stadium built they have the NFL over a bartell.

  12. A Raider game, and Vegas for the weekend count me in. The City of Oakland is playing games, they don’t want them there. Memories aside the Colliseum is a dump.
    Viva Las Vegas!!!

  14. As a lifelong Raiders fan, I’ve never made the trip to Oakland to see a game. Call it the inherent danger of being raped, pillaged and murdered or having a toilet overflow on me. I would definitely go to Vegas to see them.

  16. One major inconvenience I can think of is where the team will play during the 2-3 years of construction. Sam hoyd only fits about 40,000.

  17. Something is very wrong when the NFL can masquerade as federally tax exempt nonprofit worth nearly $50B and with a straight face, say they can’t survive without us building their stadiums.

  23. The NFL’s golden era built around the internet and its endless stream of content and side-industries (fantasy, gambling, gossip, celebrity, sabermetrics specialized content, etc) is crashing down to earth way before anyone saw it coming. The ratings say it all, the product’s quality is just not there. Half the QBs suck. Osweiller is supposed to be a star? give me a break man. There is way too much dead weight. Lame duck cities/ franchises like Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, St. Louis (pre-2016) and Oakland are a huge part of the problem.
    So take a risk and at least get some impact cities like LA and Vegas into the mix.
    Too bad for Oakland though.

  24. Can’t imagine being a long time raiders season ticket holder – who stuck it out during the bad years – and then reading this.

  25. If the Raiders move it will be a sad day for the Bay Area. Then they will be stuck with that poor excuse for a team outta Santa Clara. Even then they probably won’t sell out their stadium even though they’re the only game in town. I’ve been to Niner games the last two years and it’s amazing how many seats are empty. Niners faithful?? Nope! Nobody has it better??? Not even close.

  29. NFL team in Vegas will happen but not with the Raiders. The NFL wants an ATM machine in Sin City. The Davis family has proven over and over they dont know how to run a profitable franchise thus they are always begging for public money. The NFL doesnt want a new stadium covered in tarps. Keep the Raiders in Oakland. That is a perfect marriage. The Chargers in Vegas?? Hmmmmmm.

  30. It is 100% guaranteed the owners will approve it. the Raiders sued the NFL years ago in their move to LA and WON. There is the magical legal word “precedent” now. The owners know that they will definitely lose if they fight it. They would have to pay the lawsuit and let them move. It won’t happen. The previous lawsuit is why the owners allowed The Rams to move to LA and got the owners “blessing”.
    besides, Davis made a deal with billionaire Sheldon Adelson who has lawyers on retainer the NFL cant afford.
    Its over, the Raiders are moving to Las Vegas.

  33. A fight is brewing? More like a fight might be considered… then common sense will step forward and the few remaining who oppose will see they really can’t justify denying Mark Davis the opportunity to legitimately increase the value of his franchise by about a billion dollars.

    I’m sorry, faithful Raider Nation. I hate to see it come to this and as a fan who grew up with a Kenny Stabler jersey and every piece of Oakland Raider gear I could ever get my hands on, I still believe the best place for them is where they already are. That being said… all good things come to an end. Maybe there will be some 11th hour reprieve but I think the future has Vegas written all over it. Get mad, get sad… or get with the future.

    Just remember this: there is ONE Nation – Raider Nation. And we will take that city over, even if we’re just visiting.

  35. Publicly funding a stadium through a hotel tax in Las Vegas, the city with the most hotel rooms in the world? The public porion of the stadium would be paid off in no time.

  37. Perhaps the owners who don’t want the Raiders in Vegas should open their pocket books and put their money where their mouth is. Help build them a stadium in Oakland. My guess is these greedy animals will back the plan in Vegas because it’s 3/4 of a billion dollars in free money.

  38. That’s sad for Oakland. Just when the Raiders get good they’re about to leave town. Like Kevin Durant leaving the Seattle Supersonics for OKC.

  39. Man, these owners need some more money. They can barely afford their personal pilots.

  45. I can’t believe Nevada approved the funding in this political climate. I thought public funding for stadiums was dead.

    Regardless, the Raiders most likely don’t care if they get the votes or not. They will do what they want to do.

  46. Vegas Radiers! There’s not a fight between owners, postering for the media only. They’ll easily get the votes to relocate.

  47. Oh boy, another potential NFL courtroom drama. That will certainly bring the viewers back to the game.

  48. This is where the illogical nature of the “no welfare for billionaires” crowd is shown. Oakland either will not or cannot provide funding for an undisputedly needed new stadium. Meanwhile, Davis on his own does not have the financial ability to build a stadium.

    Thus, the no public funding zealots will get their wish while the Raiders move to Las Vegas. Enjoy that approximately extra $10 in your taxpayer pockets while the wretched coliseum sits empty in the fall.

  49. ” That could make it harder for the Raiders to get the votes necessary to move, possibly setting the stage for an attempt by owner Mark Davis to move without approval.”

    Better not to ask for forgiveness or beg for permission.
    Just Vegas Baby!

  52. Ain’t no fight brewing among ownership…oh sure they will all talk about what a tragedy it is to move a team.
    But in the end the $$$$ will do the talking and the Raiders will be in Vegas.
    All the owners will be saying how they didn’t want it to happen but that mean old Mark Davis is just like his old man.
    Then they will all high-five after the cameras are off and laugh all the way to the bank.

  53. When NFL viewership is collapasing, let’s move a team from the 6th market to the 42nd all because the owner of the team can not attract local big business to help him out with a stadium like every other owner in the area has done, brilliant. #stayinoakland

  54. Raiders belong in Oakland.

    Perhaps if the owners of these teams started to show some loyalty to their fans & not charge them a fortune to go see a game live, ratings wouldn’t be down.

    The greedy get greedier, the game is getting ruined & the fans are leaving because of it. Vegas? Desperate times call for desperate measures.

    In an effort to keep people tuning in, the NFL keeps throwing gimmicks at us. It’s not working. People just want to watch good, old-fashioned football. Diva fights, twitter battles, and all the other BS that goes in is ruining a great game.

  55. One MAJOR step closer…so much for Majestic pulling out of the deal and having any sort of negative effect.

    As I’ve mentioned in other posts on this, I’m torn. I love the idea of the Raiders staying in Oakland – there’s a tradition that just feels right. However, as a loyal Raiders fan living up in Canada, being in Vegas makes it ridiculously much easier to see my team at a home game (and not just hoping the schedule-gods give them A game a year in BUF, DET or CLE). Vegas flights from here are pretty cheap and Vegas is way more attractive to me than Oakland for a weekend getaway (no offense to Oakland).

    ONE NATION!

  56. The league makes billions from its normal operations.

    Now it makes billions more from its shadow ownership of the daily fantasy gambling sites.

    Yet they still want the public to pay for their buildings.

    Absolutely disgusting the level of greed. No city or state should ever give the league another penny.

  58. Now all of those hucksters on the street corners of Las Vegas who give away free show tickets if you agree to go to a timeshare presentation will now be giving away free Raiders tickets. Sounds like a good deal for football fans!

  59. 600k people in Vegas

    Keep playing house. Bay Area has 7 Million.

    It will never happen. I’m done listing the rest of the reasons.

  60. There’s absolutely no chance the owners turn away from $1.4 billion of free money ($750 million from hotel taxes and $650 million from Sheldon Adelson). They will approve the move to Vegas.

  61. One major inconvenience I can think of is where the team will play during the 2-3 years of construction. Sam Boyd only fits about 40,000.
    ———————————————————
    That’s more than the Dolphins get to games so should be no problem with the size plus they said they would add temp seats if needed.

  63. What a bunch of weak sisters all posting the love for a Las Vegas location and for extracting 3/4 of a billion dollars from tax payers to help them make billions on their hard earned pay. If so are those tax payers now stock holders earning dividends? If not they are all getting screwed big time. All you who gave a thumbs up for this move are intellectual cowards, who would give nothing to anyone who found themselves in a bad way but with other people’s money your so positive it’s just fine. Let’s just you are all fools for letting this pass, letting people with real problems pay out for the rich and greedy. Will they in turn pay for your children’s college funds, medical expenses, or burial plot. NO SUCKERS THEY WILL NOT !!!

  66. Going from a city on the down to a city on the up makes all the sense in the world.

    Can’t blame the owners especially when the city on the up has stepped up to the plate.

  67. The NFL wants a franchise in Vegas so bad, they can taste it. I’m sure they were hoping it would be someone better than the Raiders, but they’ll take what they can get.

  69. (a message to Libby Schaaf)

    money talks, bs walks….Go ahead Libby stay in bed with Lew Wolff who contributes to your political campaign- keep a team whose owner is to cheap to pay any of his good players, that he has now became a farm team for the rest of mlb…..you act as if the Raiders need Oakland…under your watch you will have lost the Raiders, and the Warriors. Pathetic!

    Go Raiders!!!! (wherever you are)

  70. Laughing hard at the hard core Raider fans that are giddy to see the team move AGAIN depriving them of their beloved Oakland Raiders. Man, if the Broncos moved from Denver to another state, there would be wholesale mutiny!

  71. This has opened the floodgates to future large development projects in Vegas. What’s to stop a large developer like Wynn to demand public money to build a large resort casino (last one cost $2 billion!). Unlike a stadium, casinos are open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. Casinos generate daily tax revenue unlike a stadium which will only have attractions a handful times a year. Casinos host conventions, concerts, sporting events all the time and are more affordable. How many conventions a year need the space of a giant stadium?

    Vegas will build a $1.5 billion, give or take 500 mill, but the team will demand renovations before the damned thing is even paid off! That’s the NFL. Just ask Alameda County (Oakland) taxpayers.

  72. @granadafan – Ask the Alameda County (Oakland) and California taxpayers why they are willing to let the Raiders leave. The majority refuse to acknowledge that public funds are the only way to get a new stadium in Oakland.

    How does an extra pittance per taxpayer offend people so much?

  73. There’s no conflict with other teams. Vegas is a growing market. Lots of corporate dollars there. Easy to get to. Get it done.

  74. Am I the only one that finds the most fascinating part of this story the fact that the Vegas Senate has only 21 members? Do they just meet and vote at a Starbucks?

  75. justbegbaby says:
    Oct 12, 2016 10:49 AM
    Laughing hard at the hard core Raider fans that are giddy to see the team move AGAIN depriving them of their beloved Oakland Raiders. Man, if the Broncos moved from Denver to another state, there would be wholesale mutiny!
    **********************************************
    That’s because the Bronco’s are a regional team.

    The Raiders are global.

  78. To those saying the Raiders can just go, this isn’t the 1980’s anymore. The Seattle Seahawks tried to move to Los Angeles in 1996 and the NFL started fining them daily until they moved back.

    It didn’t last long.

    The best option for the Raiders is to try to make it work in Oakland, the 2nd best option for the Raiders is to play in Santa Clara. With the way the 49ers are playing and the crowds they have, the Raiders will own that place before too long.

    The 3rd best option is San Antonio because of the massive amounts of people and the growing economy, not to mention an already ready to use facility is in place.

    The 4th best option is Las Vegas.

    The Chargers will end up in Los Angeles. I don’t expect anyone in California to vote for stadium funding in this day and age. It’s just not going to happen.

    But make no mistake about it, the NFL can and will stop the move to Las Vegas if they wanted to.

  79. That’s because the Bronco’s are a regional team.

    The Raiders are global.

    ——————————————

    Only One Nation. Raider Nation.

  80. For those questioning the Vegas tax payers, the reason it went through is because it will be funded by Vegas visitors, not locals. It’s a no-brainer for Las Vegas.

  81. JSpicoli says:
    Oct 12, 2016 9:24 AM

    600k people in Vegas

    Keep playing house. Bay Area has 7 Million.

    It will never happen. I’m done listing the rest of the reasons.

    ———

    How are you going to do the city population of Vegas (600k) and compare it to the entire Bay Area (7M)

    The LV metropolitan area has over 2 million.

    Just to make it clear.. the Oilers left Houston (6 million) for Nashville (1 million), the Rams left Los Angeles (12 million) for St. Louis (2 million), the Browns left Cleveland (3.5 million) for Baltimore (2.5 million) ect, ect, ect..

    Population means nothing. The Bay Area is one of the largest markets in the country with two of the most historic teams in football, but neither can sell out games, one uses tarps.

  82. bluenose1965 says:
    Oct 12, 2016 12:42 PM

    For those questioning the Vegas tax payers, the reason it went through is because it will be funded by Vegas visitors, not locals. It’s a no-brainer for Las Vegas.
    ——-

    Until the economy crashes again and people stop visiting Vegas.

  83. The NFL can’t fall back on the old gambling excuse this time, since everyone knows that the league is in bed with Draft Duel and Fan Kings.

  85. Make no mistake, the NFL wants a team in Vegas, they want a money maker, an ATM machine with fans that can support it. The davis family has proven ovah and ovah that they do not know how profitably run an NFL franchise. Tarps anyone? Please child. All haircut humor aside, Mark D is a joke of an owner and the NFL doesnt trust him with a new stadium.

    As for the Raiders being a global franchise which justifies their being moved out of Oakland on the owners whim, thereby depriving the city of their team, really??? Are they so global they play on a sewage infested baseball field? Impressive! Stay in Oakland Global Raiders, it suits you!

  86. For those questioning the Vegas tax payers, the reason it went through is because it will be funded by Vegas visitors, not locals. It’s a no-brainer for Las Vegas.
    _____________________________________
    News flash, it is the visitors that are the lifeblood of Vegas. Get it yet? Those visitors have other options where they can go to gamble. Wow! Way to see the big picture!

  87. This is great news. I have supported the Las Vegas stadium project the entire time. Oakland has had 15+ years to get something done. Mark Davis has committed $500 million to the Las Vegas stadium. He also purchased the “Las Vegas Raiders” trademark. Super Bowls, concerts, Final Fours in the new Vegas stadium will be off the hook! The NV lawmakers understand the concept of investment.

    The Raiders are moving to Las Vegas. In reality, they should move there for the 2017 season and play at Sam Boyd Stadium until the mega palace is finished. There is no point in playing 2 or 3 “lame duck seasons” in Oakland. Libby Schaaf’s policy of “zero dollars and zero cents” was never going to work.

  88. Do you really think the NFL owners will refuse 750 million in public funding? I don’t think so. There is so much potential and growth with the Las Vegas market. Las Vegas can do things many other cities cannot.

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