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Sources: Raiders Officially Start Moving Process, Will File Relocation Papers For Vegas

The Raiders will "file relocation papers to move from Oakland to Las Vegas, putting the NFL in a completely new world," according to sources cited by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. What this does for the Raiders is "officially starts the process toward their move." They had until Feb. 15 to "make this decision, and now they need a vote of 24 owners or 23 owners along with [Raiders Owner] Mark Davis to approve this." That "should happen in the March league meetings." The Raiders plan to "stay in Oakland for probably at least the next two years, maybe three while their stadium is built so they hope they are going but if they do, it won't be right away" (“NFL GameDay First,” NFL Network, 1/14). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio noted the Raiders have arrangements to play in Oakland in '17 and '18, though "things could get interesting" in '19, given that their new stadium in Las Vegas "possibly won’t be ready that soon." Florio: "The next question becomes whether and to what extent Oakland will support the Raiders, with the knowledge that the Raiders will [be] leaving for Las Vegas" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 1/14). CSNBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto noted the "nettlesome piece" of a possible stadium investment from Las Vegas Sands Chair & CEO Sheldon Adelson has "not yet been solved." It is "not yet clear what Adelson could do if he is cut out of the deal, since he has unimaginable throw-weight in town" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 1/14). Former Raiders Chief Exec Amy Trask said there is a "very creative solution that can be had to keeping the Raiders in Oakland." Trask: "It’s going to need everybody to compromise a bit. But the organization seems to have a goal to leave the area" (SFGATE.com, 1/14).

NOT SO FAST: PFT's Florio reported the "only thing" that could derail a Raiders move to Vegas is a "very, very, very long shot" that San Diego comes into play. Florio: "If San Diego would somehow pull together enough money to bridge the gap between the team and league contribution and what it costs to build a stadium there, then San Diego could instantly be in play for the Raiders. Some owners would say, ‘If there's a viable alternative in San Diego, a non-gambling town, we need to consider it.’ That gambling elephant in the room is still there, but you have $750 million in free money for the league to build the stadium in Las Vegas. It's making enough owners believe it's not worth the fight, especially since if you tell Mark Davis, ‘No he can't go,’ there's a belief he will go anyway and there will end up being another anti-trust litigation involving the Raiders and the NFL” (“PFT,” NBCSN, 1/16)

ARE RELOCATIONS HURTING NFL? ESPN.com's Eric Williams noted the NFL will "potentially have three NFL franchises switching cities in a 14-month period." Williams: "That’s not exactly the perception of stability the league covets." The NFL will have to "do a lot of public-relations damage control in the coming months to repair its image" (ESPN.com, 1/15). The Chargers last week announced their decision to relocate to L.A. from San Diego, and in S.F., Ann Killion wrote the NFL and its owners have "potentially destroyed the stability of two of its coolest, most historic franchises in two of its top markets, while ruining the history of its best division, the AFC West." In its "singular pursuit of greed, its encouragement for owners to think only about the bottom line, the NFL is flipping off its paying customers." Combined with the "scourge of CTE, the lack of accountability on issues like domestic violence, the unwatchability of much of its product, and declining television ratings, the NFL may finally be at a tipping point." Killion: "The league has decided that punishing communities that refuse to build disposable billion-dollar buildings with tax money ... is a successful business strategy" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/15).

THE FEELING IS NEUTRAL: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league is "neutral" on a potential Raiders move to Las Vegas with the Golden Knights beginning play there next season. Daly: "We were certainly aware of the talk and the possibility of the NFL locating a franchise in Vegas at the time we made the decision to expand into Las Vegas. So, obviously, we felt an NFL team -- if it transpired -- wouldn’t materially affect the business of the hockey team. That continues to be our feeling" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/14).

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