Raiders Owner Mark Davis this week will "address the rest of the owners at the NFL owners meeting" on the latest regarding the team's stadium quest and the developments in Las Vegas," according to Fox' Jay Glazer. Las Vegas is "very much in play now for the Raiders," a prospect that just a few years ago "would never even be talked about" ("Fox NFL Sunday," 10/16). ESPN's Adam Schefter noted the Raiders will "have to apply for relocation at some point in January" is they intend to move out of Oakland. However, most people "around the league believe it's a question not of if the Raiders are moving to Las Vegas, but when they're moving to Las Vegas" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/16). NBC's Mike Florio noted that the league is "six to nine months away" from making a decision on the Raiders, but there is a "75% likelihood of the Raiders getting the approval from the league to move" ("FNIA," NBC, 10/16). However, CBS' Jason La Canfora said he "wouldn't pop the champagne just yet." Sources have told him that Davis "may not have the 24 votes he needs for a move." La Canfora: "Many insiders believe the Bay Area is a far superior market to Vegas. I'm told league officials are meeting regularly with Oakland officials about a possible stadium there" ("The NFL Today," CBS, 10/16). Davis said that he has "no plans for the Raiders to play regular-season games in Las Vegas until the new stadium opens," likely in '20. He added that the Raiders are "considering potential training camp sites in the Reno area" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/15).
DETAILS NEED TO BE WORKED OUT: NFL.com's Ian Rapoport wrote the business deal for the new stadium -- "including who gets what sources of revenue, how the public recovers its money," what an investor such as Adelson would receive, who gets the PSL money -- "still needs to be worked out." If the deal "comes along fast," then the owner's meetings in Houston "could be interesting." If there is support, Davis could "ink a relocation application late this year." Patriots Owner Robert Kraft yesterday said, "When I came into the league 23 years ago, I probably wouldn't have supported a team being in Las Vegas. I think the way things have evolved and the way things are at with the internet and access that everyone has to everything, I think this would be a positive move for the Raiders if they can't stay in their home territory." Rapoport wrote the "fact that there is no current proposal" from the city of Oakland "adds to the frustration." Kraft: "I don't understand why they're not jumping in there" (NFL.com, 10/16).
NEXT STEPS: Las Vegas Sands Senior VP/Government Relations & Community Development Andy Abboud said, "The rest of the work is the Raiders and the NFL. Our role sort of diminishes, but now we have a lot of work to do in terms of starting to construct this thing and a lot of planning work needs to be done." In Las Vegas, Richard Velotta noted before a shovel "can be put in the ground, several other actions must occur" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/16). Also in Las Vegas, Ed Graney wrote if the Raiders make the city their home, the "power of coalition paved the way." It was "tedious and messy and bizarre and fascinating and not nearly as transparent a process as many would have you believe" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/15). In Reno, Jon Ralston wrote under the header, "Raiders Session Took Place In Another Reality." The $750M gift to "help fund a billionaire's dream, and a stadium, if it's ever built," could "change everything but will forever be a monument to political juice" (RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, 10/16).
WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS: FOXSPORTS.com's Cameron DaSilva noted Oakland Coliseum yesterday before Chiefs-Raiders was "flooded with water as it poured from the ceiling and rushed down the steps." DaSilva: "After seeing the current status of their stadium, it's easy to see why they want out of Oakland" (FOXSPORTS.com, 10/16). In San Jose, Courtney Cronin notes yesterday's weather "added insult to injury when it came to knocks on the Raiders' stadium." Multiple parts of the Coliseum "flooded during the afternoon rain, including areas players had to trudge through to get to and from the field" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/17).
BACK IN THE BAY AREA: In San Jose, Daniel Mano noted a rep for former 49ers Owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. "met with Oakland city leaders Thursday," and the meetings were "rumored to be about the Oakland Coliseum land and a potential stadium for the Raiders." It is "unclear if there's a connection to the investment group headlined" by Pro Football HOFer Ronnie Lott that has "expressed interest in the Coliseum" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 10/14). A's co-Owner Lew Wolff on Friday said "nothing much has changed for us" in regards to a new ballpark in Oakland. Wolff: "If (the Raiders) got the deal they wanted, I'm happy for them. I don't know the details of it. What I do know is that we have another eight years to go" (EAST BAY TIMES, 10/15).
