Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Oakland Raiders are filing a relocation application to move to Las Vegas.
What this means is that the NFL process to relocate is now officially starting. I am told that the NFL will approve this application, and a vote will be scheduled for the March owners meetings in Arizona. Also Mark Davis has the required 24 votes needed to relocate I am told.
The NFL is now in a “Media Blitz” process that began on Wednesday supporting the move to Las Vegas. Everyone is being told by sources that this is happening. Even media types who openly mocked people for even mentioning Las Vegas, have changed their tune.
Mark Davis Is Officially Filing a Relocation Application to Las Vegas
The real question now is when will the Raiders actually move. Mark Davis has publicly maintained that he will keep the team in Oakland for the next two years once the owners approve the relocation. Back in October, a week after Nevada passed the stadium funding bill, it was reported that the Raiders were planning for a move to Las Vegas in 2017 as a contingency.
The newly formed Clark County Stadium Authority Board was recently given the funds to start official operations. I have heard that one of their first major decisions could be to purchase Sam Boyd Stadium from UNLV. More on that below.
Another thing being kicked around the rumor mill is that the Raiders have started a focus group in Las Vegas for the sole purpose to collect information about playing at Sam Boyd Stadium. Much sooner than 2019.
Season ticket holders are saying that their ticket reps have been unusually quiet. One source heard from a major ticket re-seller, that they were told to “Hold off on renewal at this time” from their ticket rep.
Another bird told me that the Raiders players have been informed to look at house options in the Las Vegas area, and that a plan is already in place to help facilitate them moving.
All of these are possible signs that Mark Davis could be accelerating his relocation plans from 2019, to possibly next season.
It is quite possible that the Raiders move to Las Vegas next Season!
Given the recent civil disorder events in Oakland, there is a safety concern being considered. There is a real concern that news of the Raiders relocating to Las Vegas could lead to another civil disorder incident in Oakland. The organization will monitor this closely. One local are law enforcement official, who chose to remain anonymous, dismissed that possibility. He said there was no evidence at this time for alarm, but did say they would be vigilant in their duty to protect the citizens and their property.
Now back to the Stadium Authority Board in Las Vegas. I am told there is a scenario in which they would buy Sam Boyd Stadium from UNLV. This is so that they could quickly facilitate the necessary upgrades required for NFL. That this could be done in time for the 2017 season. This information comes Joe Arrigo at scout.com, the reporter who originally broke the “Raiders to Vegas” story.
Joe Arrigo also shared some more information with me.
Goldman Sachs is now the front runner to finance the private funding in Las Vegas! During the November owners meeting, Mark Davis proposed an alternate plan to finance the private commitment of 650 million through Goldman Sachs. It has been widely reported that the Sheldon Adelson negotiations have been strained. Joe has said that is not entirely accurate. Davis and Adelson have a deal in principal, but that it is the NFL Owners, who might prefer going with the Goldman Sachs plan for a variety of reasons. There is also the fact that Eric Grubman, NFL Vice President, and relocation Czar, has roots with Goldman Sachs.
Should NFL Owners choose to go with the Goldman Sachs plan, then the Raiders will be the sole private entity.
What about Sheldon Adelson?
Sheldon Adelson will still be part of the Raiders plan in Las Vegas even if Goldman Sachs finances the money. It is expected that Adelson will handle the stadium marketing and manage the non football events. For those who do not know, Sheldon Adelson made his fortune from conventions and events. He is considered the Steve Jobs of convention and event planning. Keeping him on board, in this capacity, would be a financial home run for Mark Davis. It would exponentially increase the revenue and success of the stadium.
It all starts officially with this relocation application.
Las Vegas Raiders! That will take some getting used to.
