Oakland

Las Vegas Mayor: Oakland Raiders Will Come

The mayor of Las Vegas says the Oakland Raiders' proposed move to southern Nevada will happen unless the state bungles the deal, according to a report by ESPN.

"The Raiders will come if Nevada handles this properly," Mayor Carolyn Goodman said Tuesday on an ESPN Radio podcast.

Raiders owner Mark Davis has pledged $500 million toward a 65,000-seat domed stadium. Two potential partners in Las Vegas, the Sands and Majestic Realty, have pledged an additional $150 million, leaving about $750 million for taxpayers to pay for the $1.4 billion stadium.

Stadium supporters have said they would ask for a special session of the Nevada Legislature in August to approve the diversion of room-tax revenue for the project.  

Goodman said the funding is not a major sticking point, citing calls she has received from interested parties outside the Las Vegas region, the report said.

NFL owners would have to approve a Raiders relocation with affirmative votes from at least 24 of 32 owners.

The Raiders have a one-year lease in Oakland for next season, with team options for the following two seasons, and Davis indicated the team would likely stay there until a new stadium is built. He said he believes NFL owners will approve the move if a stadium is built in Las Vegas.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said she is staying focused on what is happening in Oakland.

“We remain confident that the Raiders can build a new stadium in Oakland without a direct public subsidy," Schaaf said Wednesday in a statement. "We will continue working with the Raiders and the NFL to responsibly make that happen."

Oakland officials have said that no public funds would be used to build a new stadium.

"It’s my job to remain focused on delivering a deal that works for the Raiders, the fans and the taxpayers," Schaaf said. "Oakland deserves nothing less.”

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