Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval tomorrow will sign into law an "increase in Clark County's hotel room tax to help finance a 65,000-seat domed stadium, clearing the path" for the Raiders to move to Las Vegas. A supermajority of Nevada lawmakers on Friday passed the bill, which "includes a separate hotel room tax increase to help fund" $1.4B in improvements to the Las Vegas Convention Center. This capped a weeklong special session in which there was "no shortage of drama" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/15).
Raiders Owner Mark Davis in a statement said, "All parties have worked extremely hard to develop and approve this tremendous stadium project that will serve as a proud new home for the entire Raider Nation" (Raiders). Davis said that he "plans to fly to Las Vegas" tomorrow. He "would not officially file for franchise relocation until January," when a formal league vote on the issue is expected. 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 (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/15).
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said, “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. Maybe they could wind up playing some preseason games there the next couple of years until that stadium is built." Schefter said the topic "will come up at this week's owners meetings" in Houston, but it is "not going to be a pressing issue" (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 10/16).
