With officials from the Raiders discussing possible stadium plans in Las Vegas, one influential NFL owner said a move would be a "tough sell" for the league, but it would not be "impossible," according to Gary Myers of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. The owner added, "If they put such a good deal in front of the Raiders, it has a chance of getting support. I would prefer not to have the Raiders there. I would prefer they stay where they are. Oakland is a great market, but if there is no opportunity to put a stadium there, it would be hard to blame them for moving. I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to it if it's the best alternative. If it's between Las Vegas and being stuck in an awful stadium, there is nowhere else to go." Myers wrote the anti-Vegas sentiment "seems to be dissipating in the NFL," and Raiders Owner Mark Davis could be on the "way to rolling lucky 7s" in the city in time for the start of the '19 season. Besides being a small market, the reason the NFL has "never come close to putting a team in Las Vegas" is the "fear of gambling." But the Raiders in Vegas "would become the preferred destination of free agents." Myers: "What could be more decadent than millionaire football players ... running wild in Vegas during the season?" The owner added, "It would be a concern to have exposure to all these people out there, more so than any other area. It would have to be discussed and everybody would have to be comfortable with it." Davis said, "We're not using Las Vegas as a bargaining chip. I would never do that. This is real" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/8). The BUFFALO NEWS noted a Raiders move to Las Vegas "would increase team revenue and value, making it hard for the NFL to turn down" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 5/8).
