The talks of the Oakland Raiders moving to Las Vegas have heated up recently, as a bill has been passed in the state of Nevada to build a $750 million stadium in Las Vegas with the presumption that the Raiders will relocate.
Raiders owner Mark Davis and Nevada governor Brian Sandoval both seem to be on board with the move, as Davis recently released a statement saying that the new stadium will be the home of the Raiders, and Sandoval said that the state of Nevada is ready for an NFL team.
All that needs to happen now is that the owners have to vote and approve the move, and Davis is doing everything he can to make that happen as he is speaking to the owners about his plan on Wednesday.
One owner who is onboard with the move is Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who cited his relationships with Steve Wynn and other hotel owners in Las Vegas in why he believes it would be a good place for an NFL team, via Tom Pelissero of USA Today:
“I would say, ‘Amen,’ ” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters during the NFL meetings Tuesday. “Steve is a valued friend and Sheldon (Adelson) is as well. I admire Jim (Murren) and what they do with MGM and I just admire what Nevada, Las Vegas is about.
“It’s a compliment to the NFL that they’re considering supporting a team. And so, I think it’s a great opportunity for everybody concerned, and I’m looking forward to the future.”
He also said that he will be very active in helping the move happen:
“I think it’s a great matchup, and I’m really impressed by the leadership … and I’m impressed by the fact that financially the people that will be supporting Mark Davis’ effort to bring those Raiders there are as excited as they are about it,” Jones said. “That alone makes me want to be very active and very excited about the Raiders and the possibilities.”
Jones was also very active last year in helping the St. Louis Rams relocate to Los Angeles.
The Raiders were also rumored to possibly join the Rams and move back to Los Angeles, but the passing of the bill to build the stadium all but ensured that the Raiders would end up in Las Vegas.
