The NFL has "made workable one potential road block" for the Raiders in their bid to move to Las Vegas, setting a range of $325-375M for the franchise’s relocation fee, according to sources cited by Albert Breer of THE MMQB. That is "relatively affordable" compared to the $650M the Rams and Chargers each paid to relocate to L.A. The NFL’s stadium finance committee met last week, and clearly the NFL is "bullish on a funding plan that is now being backed by Bank of America," and has its foundation in a record $750M in public money. An anonymous owner said about the viability of the project, “In 10 to 15 years, you’ll see the Raiders doing better than at least one of the L.A. teams and potentially both L.A. teams" (MMQB.SI.com, 3/22). In DC, Mark Maske notes NFL owners tentatively are scheduled to vote early next week on the Raiders’ proposed move, and sources said that it is "likely but not definite that the relocation will be ratified." A source said, "I think it will be approved. But I’m not certain yet." Another source said, "I’m guessing it gets done. It really comes down to: What else are you gonna do?" A source said that the joint owners’ committee, consisting of members of the finance and stadium committees, has not yet "decided whether to take the next step and formally recommend approval of the move to the owners." Such a recommendation could be "meaningful to the owners." Committee recommendations "generally are followed." However, the owners "rejected a recommendation by their L.A. committee last year when they voted on the sport’s return" to L.A. (WASHINGTON POST, 3/22).
DEAL ALL BUT DONE? CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora notes with the NFL "including a formal vote on Vegas on its official agenda ... there is almost no time for this to fall apart now." The mere "fact that a vote of that very nature is schedule[d] for Monday is further indication that the Raiders are on the move." A source said, "This is going to happen. Enough people will hold their noses and pray for the best and vote this through" (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/22). Meanwhile, PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio noted a deal "won’t be done until it’s done, and concerns arising from the prevalence of gambling could take on a life of their own once the owners are hashing out the issues in a meeting room." Also hovering over the process is the possibility that Raiders Owner Mark Davis will "move the team with or without approval of his partners, daring the league into a repeat of the antitrust litigation arising from the relocation of the team" from Oakland to L.A. more than three decades ago (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 3/21).
ULTERIOR MOTIVES? In Oakland, Elliott Almond wrote Davis appears "dead set on Vegas." Once he began negotiating with that city, he "stopped engaging with Oakland," and has never made a public comment on Pro Football HOFer Ronnie Lott's stadium plan. The lack of information has sparked "speculation and wonder at what is motivating Davis." To be fair, Oakland has "given Davis plenty of reason for frustration." Lott’s group has "operated almost entirely in secret, leading to skepticism from key NFL officials and making it difficult for the public to evaluate whether Oakland is doing enough to keep its team." Las Vegas and the state of Nevada, in contrast, have "opened their wallets and their hearts, and Davis has responded" (EAST BAY TIMES, 3/18).
