Las Vegas stadium backers make case
Backers of a proposed NFL stadium said they’ve whittled their list to two sites just west of the Las Vegas Strip and refuse to accept any less than $750 million in public funding toward the project, which they hope will soon be home to the Oakland Raiders.
Representatives from Majestic Realty and the Las Vegas Sands casino company updated an oversight committee Thursday on their quest to build a 65,000seat domed stadium, showing off their slick renderings of the proposed venue in a video with an edgy soundtrack. They said the price tag continues to rise and is now $1.9 billion, and said they’d walk away from the project if state lawmakers don’t meet their minimum financial demand.
“Not to be difficult, but we’re not negotiable,” said Sands president Rob Goldstein, who spoke on behalf of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his family. “If we can’t get 750, we respectfully thank you but we’re going to move on.”
The Raiders have made little progress securing a new stadium in the Oakland area and have committed to lining up $500 million toward building a new one in Las Vegas. Any team relocation needs the blessing of three-quarters of NFL owners, so developers are rushing to prepare their pitch by January.
Public funding would come from an increase in a Las Vegas-area hotel room tax and potentially from a special taxation district around the stadium. Officials said the stadium would be publicly owned, while the private investors would be on the hook for cost overruns but could reap returns from their investment.
Critics include the powerful Culinary Union, which represents hotel workers and argued that the NFL and the Sands can afford the project on their own.
“There’s been a lot of conversation on why are we giving money to billionaires,” said Steve Hill, chair of the oversight committee and head of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “The public is not making a contribution to a privately owned stadium.”
Cowboys
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo appeared to injure his back on the third play of the Thursday night preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks after getting pulled down from behind by Cliff Avril. Romo was forced from the pocket by a blitz from K.J. Wright. As Romo scrambled and was about to begin his slide, he was pulled down by Avril chasing in pursuit. Romo immediately grabbed at his back and was tended to by trainers for a few minutes before popping up and walking off the field without any assistance.
Chargers
A day after San Diego took its contract dispute with rookie defensive end Joey Bosa public, coach Mike McCoy had nice things to say about the Ohio State star.
“I think everybody understands the business side to this,” McCoy said. “But we all understand the type of player Joey is. He loves the game, he plays with passion. So I’m sure he is going crazy being back home and not with his teammates. We all want him here.”
Bosa’s agents and the team have wrangled over how much of his $17 million signing bonus he’ll get up front, as well as offset language in case he gets cut.
Dolphins
Miami said it has intensified mosquito-control treatments at its stadium because of the Zika virus. The stadium is about 10 miles from the nearest area of the virus outbreak in the city, so the Dolphins decided to step up treatments as a precaution.
Browns
Cleveland traded disappointing linebacker Barkevious Mingo to New England for a 2017 fifth-round pick. The former LSU standout and No. 6 overall pick has just seven sacks in three seasons.