Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval yesterday signed a state senate bill into law that cleared the way for a stadium to be built in Las Vegas to house the Raiders, and he called it an "epic day" for Southern Nevada, according to Matt Youmans of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Raiders Owner Mark Davis said that the team "would not play games in Las Vegas" before the '19 NFL season. Davis: "We believe if we stay in Oakland for at least the next two seasons after this one, it gets the families of the players and everyone else a chance to acclimate. We’re going to try to bring a Super Bowl championship back to Oakland before we make our new home here." Davis said that he plans to "'update' other team owners" about the stadium proposal at the league's owners meeting today and tomorrow in Houston. Davis: "It's an offer they can't refuse. The state of Nevada has made a significant public contribution" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/18). In Las Vegas, Tom Spousta in a front-page piece writes the proposal was "fast-tracked from the start." In less than a year, the plan "advanced through a special tourism committee and a special legislative session" before being signed into law. Now, a stadium authority board "must be formed within 30 days and must meet within 75 days." Additionally, NFL owners will be asking questions including "which of two sites will be selected" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/18). Sandoval said, "This is going to bring millions more people to Las Vegas and billions to our economy." In Oakland, Daniel Mano noted Davis and Raiders President Marc Badain "attended but did not speak" during the signing of the bill (EAST BAY TIMES, 10/18).
LEAVING SO SOON? USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero notes it is "not out of the realm of possibility the Raiders could be approved for relocation by January." A lot would have to "fall in place for that to happen, including expedited market research that convinces the 32 owners ... that Las Vegas can support an NFL team for decades to come." More details "must emerge about the deal pitched" by Las Vegas Sands Chair & CEO Sheldon Adelson, who has pledged $650M towards the project. There also are "signs of potential progress in the Raiders’ current home" (USA TODAY, 10/18). CSNBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto noted NFL owners "already showed their level of esteem" for Davis in January when they "sunk the Carson stadium plan." They could offer Vegas to Davis in "exchange for any number of terms of varying onerousness, including slow-motion divestiture of voting control of the team." There may not be "enough people interested enough to fight over who should be held responsible, because in the final analysis," it is Davis. He has "wanted to go for a good long time" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 10/17).
