Despite a number of setbacks, the Raiders are not discouraged regarding a potential move to Las Vegas. In early January, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson withdrew his $650MM pledge for a potential $1.9B, 65,000-seat stadium in Sin City. Following those reports, there wasn’t much optimism that the organization could get the necessary financial backing in time for the NFL owners’ meeting in six weeks. However, a recent report by Regina Garcia Cano of SFGate.com noted that the Raiders still have “high hopes for the project.”
Members of the organization met with the stadium authority board this past week for the first time since Adelson bailed from the plan. The two sides are still optimistic that they can still find a suitable lease agreement, and the team is reportedly in discussions with “multiple financial institutions” to make up for the monetary discrepancy.
“We’re in an industry where we’re used to plugging along, and we’re used to having starts and stops,” Raiders president Marc Badain said on Thursday (via ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez). “[Raiders owner] Mark Davis made a commitment to [Nevada] Governor [Brian] Sandoval, and we intend to see that through.”
The Raiders seemingly thought they’d have the money for a new stadium, with Adelson committing $650MM, the organization promising $500MM, and the stadium authority paying $750MM in tax revenues. However, Adelson’s withdrawal clearly threw a wrench in this plan. The Raiders were apparently hoping for financial assistance from Goldman Sachs, but a recent report implied that they have bailed on the project, as well.
The Raiders are running out of time, as owners would presumably vote on the move during their meeting in late March. Besides accounting for the necessary finances, the organization also has to determine a worthy location for the proposed stadium. Cano writes that a “parcel of land” near the Las Vegas Strip is currently the ideal landing spot. The Raiders would reportedly be sharing their new stadium with UNLV.
“The organization remains fully committed to this project,” Badain said. “We are not deterred. Financing will not be an issue.”
For what it’s worth, commissioner Roger Goodell said last week that investors affiliated with casinos may not be the best choice for the Raiders.
“I don’t see an ownership position in a team from a casino,” Goodell said. “That is not something that is consistent with our policies … not likely a stadium, either.”
How will fans from California be able to attend games with probation not allowing them to leave the state?
You’re a douche
Actually he’s pretty spot on. Raiders fans are the bottom of the barrel. Mexicans love the raiders because of their name and logo, and in the bay area the 49ers have all the fans with even a shred of class.
If you were a real Bay Area sports fan you would know thats bs. Wasn’t it a 49er fan that shot a gun at a Raiders fan a few years ago? Yeah… classy, very classy.
I’m a white Raiders fan and much like every team there are bad apples in every bunch…but way to go throwing everyone into one big category moron
Better to be bottom of the barrel than bottom of letrine like you are with those thoughts of yours bayareasportsturd.
Probation Nation.
You’re an Idiot “Ironturd”
LOL and Johnny Football still has high hopes for a successful NFL career.
As a Raider fan and Las Vegas resident, I am very hopeful for the Raiders to move here. I also pray the Oakland fans don’t bail on the Raiders like the SD fans did. If your a real Raider fan, it doesn’t matter where the move.
Raiders should just move to Sacramento !
Anyone who has been to Raider games knows that the reputation is bullshit. You are safer wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey in the Black Hole at a Raider game than you are wearing a Giants cap at Dodger Stadium or a Dallas jersey in SF.
The negative stereotype of Raider fans is partly from the team’s rowdy history – which is long dead – and part from isolated incidents of gang violence associated with LA Raiders gear back in the 1990s.
Lastly, it’s racism. Pure and simple. The working class Raider fans who make up the majority of the sideline fans who show up on camera are often brown and black, tattooed, and loud. They are truck drivers, dock workers and just regular folks. They just don’t look like the upper-middle class white folk who populate the sidelines of most NFL games.
But don’t worry. The NFL will not allow this to last. The Raiders will move, drive ticket prices up beyond the ability of many current fans to pay and the sidelines will change to reflect the kind of fans the NFL wants. And the Black Hole will become a marketing ploy and nothing more: Black Hole, brought to you by Pfizer! And people will by replicas of the costumes that the real fans wear to games right now.
All will be sanitized eventually and then the haters will be placated and the team’s soul will be dead.
The Sacramento River raiders. Just move and win baby. Best sports fans I the state.