Developments in the Chargers' plan to build a stadium and convention center in San Diego "could prove to be a significant factor" in the Raiders' efforts to move to Las Vegas, according to Matt Youmans of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. In a "perfect-world scenario for the NFL, the Chargers get a new stadium," the second spot in L.A. remains vacant as a "symbol of stadium leverage for other franchises, and the Raiders eventually figure out a solution in Oakland by using Las Vegas as bargaining leverage." L.A. Daily News columnist Vincent Bonsignore said, "If the Chargers get a stadium, that would open up Los Angeles for the Raiders. But if all the dominoes fall for Las Vegas, I think the Raiders would jump on that and there would be no waiting game. I think Las Vegas would be their first choice." Bonsignore cited sources as indicating that Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, Rams Owner Stan Kroenke, Texans Owner Bob McNair and Chargers Chair Dean Spanos "would be likely to vote in favor of the Raiders' relocation to Las Vegas and sway other owners as well" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/28). In Las Vegas, Richard Velotta in a front-page piece notes while Raiders Owner Mark Davis "may promise that his Raiders would come to Las Vegas if a stadium is built, it's a promise he may not be able to deliver unless 24 of the 32 NFL owners concur." Some old-school owners have "shown reluctance to committing to Las Vegas because of the NFL's longstanding policy against mixing football with gambling." Velotta notes there is also the "matter of getting the stadium built" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/28).
DEALING POCKET ACES: The AP's Tim Dahlberg notes Davis has "an ace in the hole" in Las Vegas Sands Chair & CEO Sheldon Adelson, who "is spearheading" a proposed $1.4B stadium just off the Strip to host the Raiders. The problem is Adelson "doesn't want to spend much of his own money" building the stadium. A preliminary plan for the stadium "calls for two-thirds of the money to be raised by tourist taxes, including some that rival hotel operators want used for an expansion of the city's convention center." Dahlberg writes Adelson "usually gets" what he wants in Las Vegas (AP, 4/28).
WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN? NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday appeared on Fox Sports Radio's "The Herd," saying ultimately this "is a decision of the ownership." Goodell: "There are owners that will feel very strongly about continuing to support our position on gambling. There will be owners that will have the view of whether that's the best market for us to be in, whether there is truly the fan support there. They'll look at, obviously, the stadium alternatives." Goodell added, "We would love to have our teams stay where they are. I'd love to see the Raiders be able to stay in Oakland" ("The Herd," Fox Sports Radio, 4/27). ESPN's Mark Dominik said a franchise in Las Vegas would be a "jackpot" for the NFL, adding, "There's a lot of money to be made if you can get a team in Vegas." Dominik: "Vegas is going to be tricky and dicey, but there is a lot of cash to be made in the National Football League. They know that” ("NFL Insiders," ESPN, 4/27). In San Jose, Mark Purdy wrote the odds are "at least 3-1 against the Raiders moving to Nevada," but Davis "is serious about investigating or even embracing the idea" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 4/27). ESPN's Field Yates said Las Vegas is a "long shot" for the NFL, but "you can see some of the basic principles and pillars that could be in play." ESPN's Trey Wingo said if the Raiders do end up moving to Las Vegas, "can we just drop the pretense that the NFL has had about the gambling issue?" ("NFL Live," ESPN, 4/27).
