The Raiders no longer belong to Oakland.
The Silver and Black were given the approval to relocate to Las Vegas on Monday in a vote of NFL ownership at the league meetings in Phoenix, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
This wasn't a surprise. Not one bit.
Approval was expected.
The Raiders worked a sweetheart deal with Las Vegas on a reported $1.7 billion stadium project that includes $750 million in public funds and financing by Bank of America. The public will also pick up the tab on infrastructure improvements.
That option contrasts an Oakland plan slammed by the NFL, which wasn't considered viable. The Raiders haven't participated in East Bay stadium efforts, focusing solely on their Las Vegas project over the past year.
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The Raiders built an attractive plan that doesn't include NFL-adverse attachments to gambling interests. It did with casino magnate Sheldon was an investor, but they got clear of that when Adelson backed out in February. They lost him and investment firm Goldman Sachs at that time, but recovered quickly when BofA hopped on board.
NFL owners discussed the Raiders application to relocate on Monday morning, and it quickly moved toward a vote.
The Raiders are the third NFL team to relocate in the last 14 months.
The Las Vegas move is contingent on a few unresolved items, but there isn't anything expected to halt this action.
While the Raiders were approved to relocate, moving vans won't line up quite yet. A new Las Vegas stadium won't be complete until 2020, and the Raiders plan to play in Oakland the next two seasons. The Raiders have a team option to play at Oakland Coliseum in 2017 and 2018. They'd be in limbo for 2019, though they have options to play in the Bay Area or in Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium, which isn't NFL ready without renovations.
The Raiders will leave when ready, abandoning Oakland for the second time in 35 seasons. Late owner Al Davis left for Los Angeles in 1982, and returned in 1995 after Oakland offered to expanded Oakland Coliseum. The city is still paying back debt on that renovation. Mayor Libby Schaaf said no public funds would be used for stadium construction, though owner Mark Davis' major sticking points came over use and control of land on the Coliseum site and conflicts with the Athletics. The A's also play at Oakland Coliseum on a lease that runs through 2024, though it has an escape clause had the Raiders locked down a football-only stadium there.
Commissioner Roger Goodell and owner Mark Davis are expected to have a press conference announcing Raiders relocation later Monday. Check back for updates and reaction from the team and NFL ownership about this move.
