The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Raiders owner makes presentation to NFL owners
His eyes on Las Vegas, Raiders owner Mark Davis says he hasn’t shut the door on anything. Oakland, though, might have shut the door on itself as home for his team.
“Oakland was in the driver’s seat if they could’ve put together anything,” Davis said Wednesday at the NFL’s fall meetings, after updating his fellow owners on his desire to relocate to the gambling capital. “They came up with nothing.
“Las Vegas has already done what it is supposed to do and we have to bring it up to the National Football League and get permission to move to Las Vegas.”
Nevada lawmakers ap- proved a deal last week that increases hotel taxes in the Las Vegas area to raise $750 million for a sta- to touch the relationship an dium and more than $400 NFL team might have with million to expand and up- a casino mogul. grade the Las Vegas Convention Goodell supported Davis’ Center. Billionaire assertion there has been casino owner Sheldon Adelson no movement toward keeping is putting $650 million the franchise in the Bay toward the project, while Area, saying “we have been the Raiders and the NFL working to see if there are will kick in $500 million. alternatives and we don’t
Commissioner Roger have one” in Oakland. Goodell also said the NFL Any relocation needs approval is looking into establishing from three-fourths a developmental league; of the 32 NFL owners. re-examining the rules There’s also the potential for on-field player celebrations; for the Raiders to join the and reopening the labor Rams in Los Angeles, where agreement. He said the a new facility is being built; league is monitoring declining they would have that option TV ratings, too. should the Chargers,
Several owners insisted who have the first option, it’s far too early to reach remain in San Diego, a decision any conclusions in the that team must make Raiders’ relocation issue, by mid-January. and none of them wanted But those scenarios also have the possibility of be- ing put on hold — the Char- gers could request a delay, something the owners also would need to vote on.
Davis also said he believes having a new stadium ready in Las Vegas by 2019 “would be really quick.” He admitted the Raiders could play a preseason game as soon as next summer in the existing Sam Boyd Stadium, but that facility isn’t anywhere near up to NFL standards for regular-season games.
Besides, Davis plans to play the next two years in Oakland because the team has a lease with two oneyear options there. He cited “stability” for the players and front office, insisting he doesn’t envision a “scorched earth policy” from the fans.
Houston Texans owner Robert McNair noted he was impressed with all the work done in Las Vegas at this point to get the Raiders.
“I’m pleased they’ve made as much progress as they have,” he said. “We’ll look at it when it is finally presented in total. These things are still so fluid until they nail everything down we don’t know what we’re looking at. We’ll wait until we have a full package.”
Goodell also reaffirmed the league’s longstanding opposition to legalized gambling on sporting events, while noting there has been a societal shift in the way people view gambling and lotteries.