Vegas football stadium clears final hurdle

LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Stadium Authority has signed the final documents necessary to build the future home of the Raiders.

Team President Marc Badain and authority chairman Steve Hill signed the lease and development agreements on Wednesday for the $1.8-billion US, 65,000-seat stadium that also will serve as home to the UNLV Rebels.

The move came a day after NFL owners voted 31-1 to approve the stadium plans and financing, including a $200-million loan from the league. The domed stadium is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 1, 2020.

The Raiders have said that the total cost of the move from Oakland to Las Vegas, including a training facility and headquarters, will top $2 billion US.

The signing of the lease agreement clears the way for the Clark County Commission to start issuing construction bonds for the project. A total of $750 million US in Clark County hotel room tax revenue will go toward the project.

The climate-controlled stadium where the team wants to kick off the 2020 season will feature 80-foot-tall retractable doors that will give fans a view of the casino-resorts on the Strip.

Don Webb, an adviser to the Raiders, said that the stadium roof will be made of a polymer that will allow natural light in, and an exterior ribbon-like structure that will help push fresh air into the venue and exhaust out.