Plans for a $1.9B domed stadium in Las Vegas on Thursday "won the recommendation of the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee," sending a proposal that "could bring the NFL" to Gov. Brian Sandoval for his consideration, according to a front-page piece by Marroquin & Spousta of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. At a meeting "stoked with enthusiasm and a few minor squabbles, the 11-member committee unanimously supported the stadium developers' preferred funding option," which requires a $750M public investment, eliminates a 39% public contribution cap and "allows the private partners to reap all stadium profits during the lifetime of the Raiders' lease." The deal requires the family of Las Vegas Sands Chair & CEO Sheldon Adelson, Majestic Realty and the Raiders to "pay the remainder of the construction costs for the 65,000-seat stadium, along with any cost overruns." Sandoval now "must decide whether to call a special session of the state Legislature to approve the financing plan, which hinges on a Clark County hotel room tax increase." The location of the proposed stadium "remains undecided" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/16). In Las Vegas, Jackie Valley notes the SNTIC "opted to recommend a seven-member stadium authority board to govern the publicly owned facility." It would "include three members appointed by the governor, two appointed by the County Commission and three appointed by members of the stadium authority to represent the public at large." Meanwhile, the four-hour meeting "began with robust fanfare in the typical Las Vegas fashion." Raiders cheerleaders "posed for photographs with attendees, and members of the UNLV football team showed up post-practice to pledge their support for the deal" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 9/16).
JUST THE BEGINNING: The REVIEW-JOURNAL's Marroquin & Spousta note UNLV AD Tina Kunzer-Murphy "opened the public comment period with a passionate plea for a stadium to be built," and football coach Tony Sanchez followed her. Sanchez: "It's very important to me that the stadium get built. In the landscape of college football, it's a game changer" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/16). In Las Vegas, Matt Youmans notes Raiders Owner Mark Davis cautioned that it is "just the beginning," but on Thursday he "expressed more optimism about someday seeing the finish line." Davis spent Thursday in the Bay Area, where he "monitored results." Davis said, "Everybody wins in this. We're just really excited." Youmans notes the Raiders were represented at Thursday's meeting by team President Marc Badain, who has "worked behind the scenes while Davis has made most of the public comments on behalf of the franchise" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/16). NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman said, "I'm going to be at the Raiders game [Sunday]. ... I'll spend a couple of days after that meeting with a variety of people." Grubman said that it is "'probable' he will meet with city officials in Oakland and that his schedule isn't set." He "declined to say whether he will travel to Las Vegas" (L.A. TIMES, 9/16). The REVIEW-JOURNAL's Sean Whaley notes lawmakers "seem to favor the first week of October, or just over two weeks from now, for a special session to approve" the stadium funding plan. Legislative staff probably will "need a week's notice to draft the legislation implementing the stadium financing and any other measures that might be considered by lawmakers" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/16). The REVIEW-JOURNAL's Ed Graney writes under the header, "MGM's Buy-In Was Key To Las Vegas Stadium Project Gaining Recommendation" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/16).
NOT GIVING UP: Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf in a statement "struck a defiant tone, saying 'Oakland is neither rolling over, nor giving up'" (EAST BAY TIMES, 9/16). CSNBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto wrote it is now time for Raiders fans to "get less comfortable about the continued existence of the Oakland Raiders." NFL owners are "not automatically disposed" to do Davis any favors, "given the fact that they used him as a passenger-side floor mat during the meeting that greenlighted the Rams" to move to L.A. A vote to "let the Raiders go to Las Vegas would have to clear the hurdles of the men who stood in Davis' way in January," most notably the Cowboys' Jerry Jones, Seahawks' Paul Allen, Redskins' Dan Snyder, Eagles' Jeffrey Lurie and Rams' Stan Kroenke (CSNBAYAREA.com, 9/15). Pro Football HOFer Cris Carter said of the Raiders and a potential move to Las Vegas, “I hope they leave, I really do. The stadium in Oakland is a dinosaur. This is a business about making money and they're not going to be able to make money, they are not going to support them here. The fans of Oakland deserve better but the people aren't going to do better by them so I think they should go to Vegas and it would be great for the National Football League.” But CBS Sports Network's Amy Trask added, “There is a deal to be made in Oakland if the team turns its resources, economic and otherwise, towards pursuing a deal in Oakland" (“Any Given Wednesday,” HBO, 9/14).
