The Oakland Raiders made a tremendous step in the right direction towards their Super Bowl aspirations, as head coach Jack Del Rio and the players take part in their return to greatness. While the Raiders made headlines regarding signing Marshawn Lynch and their NFL Draft picks, the approval of the Las Vegas relocation took precedent.
All in all, Mark Davis and the franchise got their wish, with the 31-1 approval in favor of the relocation. While the city of Oakland has had some time to deal with the decision, they understand that they have two more seasons at the Oakland Coliseum to enjoy their beloved team.
During this gap period, the construction for the Las Vegas Stadium will be underway, with a projected 2020 completion. The Raiders have wasted no time starting the building process, finding an area near the strip of Las Vegas to call their home.
According to Richard Velotta of the Las Vegas Review Journal, the Raiders finalized a purchase for a plot of land in Las Vegas on Monday:
The Oakland Raiders have closed on the purchase of 62 acres west of the Mandalay Bay resort clearing a hurdle in the team’s bid to relocate to Las Vegas and build a stadium in time for the 2020 NFL season.
The Raiders purchased the 62-acre land for a total of $77.5 million, according to the Clark County Recorder’s Office. Altogether, the 62-acre plot of land is divided into four sections, just west of Interstate 15.
The overall lay out is filled with two large portions and two small ones. The south portion is 29.2 total acres, while the north portion is 26.51 acres. On the other hand, the northwest portion is 4.16 acres, while the northeast portion is 2.71 acres.
With a bit of bad blood, the Oakland Coliseum has already let it be known that they don’t want the Raiders to return for the 2019 season, leaving the Raiders to find an alternate one-year home.
Although the players and coaches are focused on the upcoming 2017 season, the front office will certainly be occupied attempting to prepare the transition for the ongoing future.
