The Las Vegas Stadium Authority board on Thursday "unanimously approved a series of documents ... to put the financing and procedures in place to build" a stadium for the Raiders, according to Richard Velotta of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. It took "less than two hours for attorneys to review and explain and for board members to vote on nearly 57 documents necessary to see that the Raiders relocate to Southern Nevada, prove they’re financially capable of building the stadium, make it available to the UNLV football team and ensure the team won’t leave for at least 30 years." Embedded in the discussion was "another assurance that the Raiders are on top of plans to provide at least 16,250 parking spaces for fans attending games or other events at the stadium." Raiders President Marc Badain told board members that the team has "identified land and property owners that could forge deals to accommodate up to 27,000 parking spaces." On the effort to determine a guaranteed maximum price, Las Vegas Stadium Co. COO Don Webb "worked all last week reviewing a construction contract with general contractor Mortenson Construction." Las Vegas Stadium Authority attorney Mark Arnold said that it is "likely the Raiders would be able to calculate the final price within 10 days." The authority "could meet March 15 or 22 if an NFL stadium committee wants any changes" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/2). In Las Vegas, Mick Akers notes the Raiders and the Stadium Authority will "take any recommendations into account and update the agreements so they can be finalized later this month," ahead of the NFL owners' meeting March 25-28 in Orlando. If all goes as accordingly and the NFL approves the plans, the county "could issue the first construction bonds when commissioners meet April 3" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 3/2).
