Mark Davis continues to pitch Raiders’ move to Las Vegas
Raiders owner Mark Davis continued to pave the road to Las Vegas on Wednesday, going before the league’s stadium and finance committees in New York City with updates on his plans to relocate the team from Oakland.
NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman told reporters that the progress Davis has made is “impressive.”
The league’s initial concerns were the size of the Las Vegas market compared with the Bay Area and the role of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson in the deal.
Rooney cited rules and policies that would prohibit a casino owner from owning a franchise.
Davis, who refused comment, has been meeting with Adelson for months about various terms of a lease agreement for the Raiders at a new Las Vegas venue.
Adelson played a key role in getting Nevada lawmakers to pass legislation that will contribute $750 million in public money to the $1.9 billion project.
Officials in Oakland reached a land deal in November with a group backed by Fortress Investment and led by former 49ers and Raiders defensive back Ronnie Lott.
Asked what city and Alameda County officials think of Davis’ New York City sales pitch, Oakland City Council President Larry Reid said the city “can’t control” the Raiders’ owner.
City and county officials believe they have met Davis’ demands for the Coliseum land and to fill in the $400 million financing gap for a stadium.
NFL owners could vote on a Raiders move to Las Vegas as soon as March, at the annual league meeting in Phoenix.
The Chargers may opt to become a tenant in the stadium being built in Inglewood for the Rams.