Raiders move closer to Vegas

The Raiders came one step closer Wednesday to securing the land the team needs for its new headquarters and practice facility near Las Vegas, and at a steep discount.

Officials in suburban Henderson approved a resolution that allows the city to move forward with a direct sale of 55 acres to the Raiders for more than $6 million — half the land’s appraised value. The city is using a Nevada law that allows for nobid sales at under-market prices when they are considered to be in the public interest.

“This is an opportunity to take the city of Henderson to a new level,” Assistant City Manager Greg Blackburn said during the city council meeting ahead of the resolution vote. “It’s hard to put a dollar value to what this does to help us for the future.”

The Raiders have promised that the venue will create an estimated 250 fulltime jobs not counting players. The team will spend about $75 million to build the complex.

The team wants to kick off its 2020 season at a 65,000-seat domed stadium built partially with taxpayers’ money across the freeway from the Las Vegas Strip. The team in May paid $77.5 million for the 62-acre site and hosted a glitzy groundbreaking ceremony in November.

Guests of hotels and other lodging facilities in the Las Vegas area are contributing $750 million to the project through a room tax increase. The Raiders and the NFL are expected to contribute $500 million to the project, while the team has also secured a $600 million bank loan for construction.

Henderson’s city council must vote again next month to give final approval to the offer.

Henderson officials said the city will benefit from property taxes collected on the land and additional spending from visitors and team clients. City staff said similar projects have created an estimated $210 million tax impact over a decade after the venues are fully built.

Not all residents were supportive of the city’s decision.

“The Raiders have been Gypsies over the years, starting in Oakland, then moving to El Segundo (Los Angeles) for a few years, then back to Oakland and now Las Vegas. Where to next?” Henderson resident Adrian Woodhouse wrote the city council in an email.

On Wednesday, commissioners in Clark County approved a development agreement with the team that spells out public safety and infrastructure improvements in and around the Raiders stadium.

The agreement calls for widening sidewalks, improving roadways, installing and modifying traffic signals, and building any needed pedestrian bridges.

The team agreed to install about $1.4 million worth of public safety equipment at the stadium and an emergency operations center. The document outlining the development agreement did not include a finalized plan for the thousands of county-mandated parking spaces.

MCCOY’S STATUS FOR WILDCARD GAME UNCERTAIN >> Bills running back LeSean McCoy missed practice because of a right ankle injury and it’s uncertain whether he can play Sunday at Jacksonville in Buffalo’s first playoff game in 18 years.

Coach Sean McDermott would only list the Bills’ top offensive threat as day to day and declined to say whether McCoy would be able to practice at all this week. McCoy did not speak with reporters during time designated for interviews, as team officials said he was being treated by trainers.

McCoy was carted off the field after being hurt on the opening drive of the second half of Buffalo’s 22-16 win at Miami on Sunday.

McCoy leads Buffalo with 1,138 yards rushing, 59 catches and eight touchdowns, including two receiving. Overall, his 1,586 yards from scrimmage account for 33 percent of the Bills’ total.

Buffalo lacks depth at the position a week after backup Travaris Cadet broke his ankle.

That leaves Mike Tolbert and Marcus Murphy as the only running backs on the roster, along with fullback Patrick DiMarco. Murphy was promoted off the practice squad last week and led Buffalo with 41 yards rushing against Miami.

On Tuesday, the Bills added insurance by signing running back Aaron Green to their practice squad. Green played two games with the Los Angeles Rams last season.

PACKERS CONTINUE TO CLEAN HOUSE >> The Green Bay Packers have announced the departure of veteran defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

Defensive line coach Mike Trgovac and inside linebacker Scott McCurley were also let go as the Packers clean house.

The moves made earlier this week were announced by coach Mike McCarthy on Wednesday.

Packers president Mark Murphy said on Tuesday that McCarthy has the authority to fill the coordinator position without waiting for a new GM. Murphy is leading the search for a replacement for general manager Ted Thompson, who is moving to an advisory role with the team.

More changes to McCarthy’s staff could be coming after the team finished below .500 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2008.