Nevada Governor signs Raiders stadium bill

AP

The pieces continue to fall into place for the Raiders to move to Las Vegas.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed the stadium bill approved by the Nevada Assembly and Senate last week that calls for $750 million in public money to be used for the construction of a stadium for the team. Those funds would come via a hotel room tax and would be used alongside $600 million in private money and $500 million from the Raiders and the NFL.

“Las Vegas is ready for this. Nevada is ready for this,” Sandoval said, via the Associated Press. “The best brand on the planet is coming together with one of the best brands in professional sports. It is truly one of those situations where 1+1=3.”

Raiders owner Mark Davis joined Sandoval at the bill signing and reaffirmed the statement he made after the bill passed through the legislature. Davis called Las Vegas the “proud new home for the entire Raider Nation” at that time and said Monday that he’s not using the city as leverage to get a new building in Oakland.

The question of whether it does become the new home for the Raiders still faces a vote that calls for three-fourths of the league’s owners to approve the move, although the Davis family hasn’t let that stop them from moving the team in the past.

40 responses to “Nevada Governor signs Raiders stadium bill

  1. “The best brand on the planet is coming together with one of the best brands in professional sports.”

    This is what fans of regional teams like that pea brain in Buffalo don’t understand.

  2. Awesome news. Las Vegas and the southern Nevada region are ready for some football. It is great to see that there are some people who are not afraid of progress. Las Vegas can do things that many other cities cannot do. Cannot wait for the groundbreaking ceremony with Mark Davis and mayor Carolyn Goodman.

    The next thing they should do is to work on Sam Boyd Stadium to make it an adequate temporary home for the Raiders. It is pointless for the Raiders to remain in Oakland as a “lame duck” team when everybody knows they are leaving. Oakland did have at least 15 years to solve this problem, so it’s time to move. DO NOT RE-ELECT Libby Schaaf. What a disgrace!!

  3. I wonder if the same fools who claim the Rams and Raiders “failed” in LA will start chirping about the Raiders “failing” in Oakland twice. You say you don’t like government to provide welfare to millionaires, but when a gov’t. draws the line and says “no, we don’t have the money”, then you claim those teams “failed”. You can’t have it both ways.

  4. Looking good for the Silver and Black. Last big hurdle is the owners approval. Without it, I doubt the stadium will be built even though Mark can go rogue and move like his Dad did. The NFL can exert enormous pressure and leverage on keeping that stadium ground unbroken. They are the mafia of pro sports. My guess is you will be approved. Welcome to Vegas Just Sin Baby!

  5. I guess I really don’t have a dog in this fight but it just seems like the worst kind of crazy unmitigated greed when a multi, multi, multi, billion dollar business like the NFL uses taxpayer money to further line the pockets of their billionaire owners.

  6. NFL owners are grifters.

    There’s no reason the NFL can’t build their own stadiums. They’re making $15 billion a year +/-.

    Grifters gotta grift.

  7. Las Vegas needed a modernized football stadium for many years. Now they will get it. The NFL owners are not going to reject $750 million in public funding. The owners are drooling over the idea of Super Bowls is Las Vegas. Secondly, they voted against Mark Davis on the Carson project. Voting against him a second year in a row would just be wrong. Most importantly, it is too good of a financial opportunity for the league to pass up.

  8. My favorite line is when they say “it won’t cost the taxpayers of Las Vegas anything!”

    Like I always say, you don’t have to be smart to be rich. You just have to find enough people with money dumber than.

  9. @ bigbroncomania:
    What pressure and leverage can the NFL exert on Las Vegas? As hard as they try, the NFL can’t prevent a municipality from building a stadium if they choose to. As you can see, they can’t even force a city to build a stadium either.

  10. I wonder if any public money will be used to hire a fulltime professional barber for Mark Davis.

  11. citizenstrange says:
    Oct 17, 2016 6:11 PM

    I guess I really don’t have a dog in this fight but it just seems like the worst kind of crazy unmitigated greed when a multi, multi, multi, billion dollar business like the NFL uses taxpayer money to further line the pockets of their billionaire owners.

    ======================

    Technically it’s coming from people who visit LV as an additional tax. So it’s not taking away from anything currently.

    Raiders could play at UNLV stadium for a couple years while new place is built, then move in and UNLV start playing in Raider stadium or something.

  12. It should be noted that in addition to the funding, the site was also strong armed by Addelson. Its right on the south end of the Vegas Strip next to Mandalay Bay off a major highway that people use to go to Los Angeles. Think about that, people can walk basically from their hotel to the stadium in droves. They are also going to make the monorail connect to the stadium. When the NFL thinks about Super Bowls and what not, this is what they dream of from a logistics standpoint and Vegas is giving them that dream.

  13. Just Vegas Baby!
    Not sure why this wasn’t simply financed through a bond issue. A retractable roof stadium/convention center in the country’s tourist and convention Mecca should print money.

  14. Stadiums are always a loser, that’s why you never see investors lining up to build one. They don’t make money, ever.

    The Raiders are only going to use that stadium at most 12 times a season. That’s why NFL owners don’t foot the entire bill to build these things.

  15. reptar310 says:
    Oct 17, 2016 7:13 PM

    Stadiums are always a loser, that’s why you never see investors lining up to build one. They don’t make money, ever.

    The Raiders are only going to use that stadium at most 12 times a season. That’s why NFL owners don’t foot the entire bill to build these things.
    ————————

    That stadium will be in use year round.

  16. Stadiums are always a loser, that’s why you never see investors lining up to build one. They don’t make money, ever.

    Oh, really? Tell that to Jerry Jones! Without knowing anything about his finances, I guarantee he’s paying the debt and will turn a profit over time. Vegas will too. Why? Because unlike a lot of stadiums that are only used a few times a year, this one will attract Football and conventions, and concerts and Rodeo’s and dozens of other events because the people who will be running it live in Las Vegas, market Las Vegas and understand how to make it all happen… that’s all you have to know.

  17. Oakland was starting to become a hell hole back in the 70’s. This city has no money for a stadium. There hayday was over a long time ago. Unless the owners say no and kick in the money themselves its probably a done deal. Should vote soon so they can get to building.

  18. I wonder if by the time this could actually happen (it won’t) they could have the franchise built into at least a .500 team. Highly doubtful. They’re one whole side of the ball away from being competitive. The other side is full of holes too.

  19. Stadiums are losers? Um Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones, UFC, are just some of the scheduled things coming to Vegas within the next 6 months. I am sure those 3 alone can fill up that stadium.

  20. I hope they model this in the same vein as the cardinals stadium where the field moves outside. It was voted best field to play on by the players themselves not to mention it’s real turf which is what the game is meant to be played on.

  21. I can’t believe that out of all the teams in the NBA, MLB, and NFL my team has to be the one and only team dumb and desperate enough to be a glorified tourist attraction for a transient city like Las Vegas.

    On top of that. Northern California will be without viable professional football team. Unless you consider Jed York’s debacle a pro team.

    Might have to start following the Seahawks. That’ll be the closest professional team to Oakland, or maybe the Rams.
    .

  22. I always enjoyed games at the colosseum in Oakland. Great fans. Great atmosphere. Affordable. Even if Oakland built them a stadium, fans like myself would be priced out of attending. Just look at Levi’s. Might as well build them a palace in Vegas.

  23. citizenstrange says:
    Oct 17, 2016 6:11 PM
    I guess I really don’t have a dog in this fight but it just seems like the worst kind of crazy unmitigated greed when a multi, multi, multi, billion dollar business like the NFL uses taxpayer money to further line the pockets of their billionaire owners.
    ______________________
    The NFL doesn’t control billions of revenue. According to the terms of the CBA, most income that comes in through the league (e.g. TV contracts) is divided between the players and the teams. I’m not sure that the owners part of the TV revenue even covers operating costs (non-player salaries, equipment, facilities, travel, etc.). What separates rich teams (Cowboys, Redskins) from the poor ones (Raiders) is the team’s cut of the revenue from game tickets, parking and concessions, and the O.co coliseum has the second lowest number of seats, luxury boxes, etc. Probably as a result, Mark Davis is not a billionaire. His net worth is officially $500M but judging by his lifestyle, I question how much of that is disposable. The dude drives a VW minivan and dresses off the rack. Finally, all this talk about “building a stadium for NFL owners” is terribly misleading. The plans for the new stadium being considered for Las Vegas would have the venue being used ~50 times per year. Nominally, 10-12 of those would be for Raiders games, for which the Raiders would get a cut of the gate. For the other events, the revenue goes to the state or county (or whoever they designate). “No welfare for billionaires” sounds great – but its really pretty stupid

  24. joetoronto says:
    Oct 17, 2016 5:54 PM
    “The best brand on the planet is coming together with one of the best brands in professional sports.”

    This is what fans of regional teams like that pea brain in Buffalo don’t understand.

    ======================================

    But you’ll lose your job, tarp boy.

    You’re better off pulling for the Argos.

  25. @Wally raider

    I agree. Vegas is the perfect place for the Raiders. A transient city for a transient franchise. Raiders are carpet baggers that change cities every 15 years or so. They don’t belong to any city. Vegas is perfect.

    Raiders can leave Oakland. Just leave ASAP. Like right after the 2016 league year so my A’s can get their stadium built at that coliseum site. We don’t want to host a Las Vegas team for two year delaying the A’a stadium.. During football season I got the Warriors in LateOctober/early November even if their 5 – 15 minutes away in Frisco….we’re good in The Bay.

  26. All of you rocket scientist fail to realize that the NFL doesn’t give a damn about a stadium. They make the majority of their revenue money off of TV money. Companies want their products in front of the most eyes. That’s what they pay the advertising dollars for. The Bay Area is a top 5 market in the league, Vegas is 47th. The NFL doesn’t want to leave the Oakland/Bay Area market. The Bay Area is the wealthiest region in America. A new stadium in Oakland brings in corporate money from Silicon Valley. With the 49ers moving an hour away from S.F. to Santa Clara, there is another region of the Bay Area that is up for grabs. The 49ers are possibly the worst team in the league and the Raiders are one of the best young teams, not to mention the Oakland economy is rebounding with the largest rent increase over the last year of any city in the world and the 4th highest rent in the country. Uber is building an office in Oakland and The NFL is fully aware of this. The from There more than 3 times the amount of people in the Bay Area then there is in the entire state of Nevada. The owners get 1/32 of a $27 billion TV deal. More people watch on TV then they go to games. TV deals and market size is what the NFL cares about. Besides, they won’t draw well. People don’t go to Vegas to watch football. It is a transient city, there is not a loyal fan base there, they’re relying on 20,000 seats being filled by tourists. That will last for a little while, but when the novelty wears off, then what?

  27. Why yes, I’m going to give a team that has had homes up and down the west coast a billion dollar stadium, with the largest ever tax payer portion of the bill. Who do you want me to write the check to. And btw LV is the 40th ranked TV market in the US sure makes sense with declining ratings to move a team there.

  28. mrbiggstuff says:
    Oct 17, 2016 6:19 PM
    My favorite line is when they say “it won’t cost the taxpayers of Las Vegas anything!”

    I was in Phoenix this summer and was charged a $10 stadium fee on my rental car to help fund the University of Phoenix stadium. It didn’t bother me and I’m not even a Cardinals fan.!

  29. There’s no reason the NFL can’t build their own stadiums. They’re making $15 billion a year +/-.

    Occasionally the NFL does build its own stadium, like Kroenke did in L.A.

    But of course Kroenke was lambasted nationally as greedy and heartless because he did NOT accept an idiotic give-away of tax dollars by St. Louis.

    People can’t have it both ways.

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