New numbers on Vegas stadium
A day after Las Vegas won a bid for an NHL expansion team, a governor’s panel studying a proposed 65,000-seat domed stadium to lure a pro football franchise was greeted yesterday with a pep talk and changing financial figures.
“We are going to find a way to make this work,” declared Andy Abboud, a top executive at Las Vegas Sands, the casino company headed by billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who is pushing for the Oakland Raiders to move to the city.
There was no talk at the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee work session about whether gambling on pro sports is a good idea.
In fact, some casinos around town have already begun taking bets on how the as-yet unnamed hockey team will score its first goal in its first home game next year at the newly opened T-Mobile Arena, and how many total goals the team will score in its first season.
With the football stadium now projected to cost at least $1.45 billion, committee members dug into projections about a rate of return for private investors including Adelson and the crucial question of where a stadium could be built.
No site has been selected, despite timelines showing NFL owners would need to approve a Raiders move in January if the team is to begin play in Las Vegas in 2020.
The committee is due to turn over its recommendations next month to Gov. Brian Sandoval, who has the power to call the Nevada Legislature into special session to approve any possible tax hikes connected to the effort.
The panel, along with representatives from the Raiders, developer Majestic Realty Co. and Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp., heard again that the project won’t cost the public more than $750 million.
The Raiders remain committed to paying $500 million toward the project, team president Marc Badain said.
Titan goes to pot
Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan wants the NFL to study how medical marijuana could help players.
Morgan said on Twitter that “it’s time for the @NFL to take an HONEST look into the potential medical benefits of Cannabis for its players.” He tweeted after telling Yahoo that he wants the league to conduct more research on marijuana, particularly on how it could help treat or prevent chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
His comments follow offensive tackle Eugene Monroe’s recommendation that the NFL stop testing players for marijuana. Monroe was released last week by the Baltimore Ravens.
The NFL tests players for marijuana between April 20 and Aug. 9. Players who test positive for the first time enter the league’s substance abuse program. Additional positive tests result in stiffer penalties.
Niners sign pick
The San Francisco 49ers signed third-round pick Will Redmond to a four-year contract.
The former Mississippi State cornerback was selected 68th overall. . . .
John Elway has won the Horrigan Award from the Professional Football Writers of America as the league or club official who best helps the writers do their job.
Denver’s vice president of football operations and general manager has used a candid and open media policy while building a Super Bowl champion.