The NFL’s owner-comprised stadium and finance committees are "poised to recommend the Raiders relocation request to Las Vegas be voted on at the league’s annual meeting in three weeks in Phoenix," according to sources cited by Vincent Bonsignore of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. Sources said that the inclination to make the recommendation is based on two days of meetings in Florida in which the Raiders "presented a strong case for their Las Vegas bid." The presence of Bank of America for the proposed stadium was "viewed by the committee as a critical competent." Sources said that BofA's participation is "similar to ones that other NFL teams have struck with lenders over the years on stadium projects." The Raiders appeared to have "hit the necessary notes with the 18 owners making up the stadium and financing committees to move forward on a vote." However, there are still some "loose ends the Raiders have to tighten up." Among them is "securing a lease" for the Las Vegas stadium, which could happen as early as tomorrow when the Raiders meet with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 3/8). NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman said the Raiders "finalizing their lease" is an "example of something that the [stadium] committee is going to be very interested in." In Las Vegas, Jon Mark Saraceno in a front-page piece notes another "important issue for owners: the Raiders’ plan for a temporary stadium, which would be Sam Boyd Stadium, home of UNLV." Meanwhile Grubman said, "Bank of America is well-known in the NFL. Having (Bank of America officials) appear at the meeting saying they were prepared to put up the financing carried a lot of weight" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/8).
STARS ARE ALIGNED: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said securing BofA financing "was the biggest remaining hurdle" for the Raiders, other than the league's vote to approve a possible move to Vegas. NFL Network's Judy Battista: "There's going to be support for them going to Las Vegas, but it's going to be reluctant support." Battista said the NFL is "sorry to be giving up a market size like Oakland for a much smaller market" in Vegas" ("NFL Free Agency," NFL Network, 3/7). CSNBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto wrote there is "simply no good reason for any owner to vote no, save a personal or financial animus toward [Raiders Owner Mark] Davis by the league establishment that will never be eradicated." In short, "all the ducks have been aligned." Ratto: "Davis doing a deal that would pass the muster of 31 much richer men who hold him in barely tolerable esteem is some feat" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 3/7). CBS Sports Network's Adam Schein said, "Unless I'm missing something, I don't see a viable stadium solution in Oakland. I would feel bad for the fans in the Bay Area, but a move to Vegas to me has always made sense for the Raiders if they have the financial backing" ("Time to Schein," CBSSN, 3/7). ESPN's Ed Werder said, "I'm not sure there's anybody in the league that feels there's a better alternative for the Raiders for next year" ("NFL Insiders," ESPN, 3/7).
STAYING STRONG: THE RINGER's Claire McNear wrote Oakland's "refusal to bend to the will of NFL is noble." McNear: "It is good. It is also deeply, crushingly sad." Oakland’s options were "essentially give hundreds of millions of dollars to a wealthy NFL owner or lose the Raiders." Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf was "willing to take the high road, and for that she deserves praise" (THERINGER.com, 3/7).
