Roger Goodell OK with Raiders-Las Vegas talks

[-X-]

The Oakland Raiders’ flirtation with Las Vegas as a possible relocation destination has received a soft go-ahead from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Raiders owner “Mark Davis is appropriately looking at all his alternatives. They need to evaluate those alternatives. I think their ultimate decision is a long ways off,” Goodell told reporters last week at the NFL owners meeting. “There are several cities that have a tremendous interest in the Raiders. I’m hopeful also that Oakland will be one of those and that we can avoid any relocation to start with. Those are ultimately decisions about where they go and the impact that the potential gambling that we’d have to deal with.”

Goodell’s statement represents a softening of his opinion about a team relocating to the city. The NFL had adopted a hard-line position about Las Vegas, voicing its concerns about legal gambling in the state of Nevada. Goodell now sounds as if he could live with a team calling Las Vegas home.

“We’d have to understand it, we’d have to understand what the impact is on us and ultimately each owner would have a vote on that,” Goodell said.

The Raiders were the odd team out when NFL owners voted to approve the St. Louis Rams moving to Los Angeles and giving the San Diego Chargers the opportunity to join the Rams in Los Angeles.

The Raiders have agreed to a one-year deal with the City of Oakland to use the O.co Coliseum for the 2016 season. However, Davis wants a new stadium and has talked to Las Vegas, San Diego and San Antonio about a potential relocation destination.

While Goodell signaled a go-ahead to the Raiders, the NFL owners are reportedly against the Raiders or any team relocating to Las Vegas. New York Giants co-owner John Mara indicated owners would object to any team trying to move to Las Vegas.

Mara: Las Vegas a non-starter for most owners as far as a Raiders move there. “[The casinos] would be a big part of [owners’ objections].”

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) March 20, 2016

The opinion of many observers is Davis using Las Vegas as leverage in his negotiations with the city.

— Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold


http://www.dailynewsx.com/news/sports-news/roger-goodell-ok-with-raiders-las-vegas-talks-75794.html

 

[LesBaker]

The whole idea of the NFL not going to LV because of gambling is ABSURD.

Their are so many teams that play in cities or states where casinos are. In fact I'm trying to think of a team that plays in a city/state that doesn't have a casino and I cannot.

And for those who are going to say "Green Bay!!!!!!" thinking there isn't a casino there......well I have been in the casino in Milwaukee.

If it isn't a brick and mortar establishment then it's a river boat or a boat that goes a few miles out to international waters.

The issue with Vegas is the metro area is 2 million people of which all but about 5 come form other places and probably have allegiance to another team. Not to mention "entertainment dollar competition". It would be a hard city to be in if the team wasn't winning all the time.

San Antonio is slightly larger and has the Alamo Dome in place already........it's a crappy place but it would do while a new stadium is built.

 

[den-the-coach]

San Antonio is slightly larger and has the Alamo Dome in place already........it's a crappy place but it would do while a new stadium is built.

San Antonio would be a far better place IMHO and the Spurs are already Silver & Black, however, not sure Jerry Jones or Robert McNair would want another team in Texas.

 

[OldSchool]

San Antonio would be a far better place IMHO and the Spurs are already Silver & Black, however, not sure Jerry Jones or Robert McNair would want another team in Texas.

They might not want it but the distance is such that the other owners might tell them to get over it. One thing some aren't taking into account for the Raiders in Vegas is just how short of a drive it is to Vegas from the LA area and the Raider fans there. They can all easily drive to the game for the day and head home at night after the game and not miss work time.

 

[dieterbrock]

The whole idea of the NFL not going to LV because of gambling is ABSURD.

Their are so many teams that play in cities or states where casinos are. In fact I'm trying to think of a team that plays in a city/state that doesn't have a casino and I cannot.

Casino is one thing, but legal sports betting is another. Nevada is one of only 4 states that allows it.
Would be an interesting dynamic to (legally) place 50 timer on a game, and then walk in to the stadium and see how it plays out. Wonder if they could have a sports book in the stadium? I cant understand the trepidation on this

 

[den-the-coach]

One thing some aren't taking into account for the Raiders in Vegas is just how short of a drive it is to Vegas from the LA area and the Raider fans there. They can all easily drive to the game for the day and head home at night after the game and not miss work time.

Raider fans will never make it back to the LA area after spending the day in Vegas!

 

[VegasRam]

Sigh...Perception really is reality.
Of the 9 billion with a b, 250 million with an m was bet in Las Vegas on March Madness, with similar numbers for the SuperBowl.

And of course Goodell knows it. Don't think it will be an issue. He and the Owners are much more concerned with whether or not they would be adequately supported.
Which is a valid concern, and as Les said, most of us are from somewhere else, (although I suspect it's more than 5. Probably at least 10).

Personally, I think it might work - Raider fans are less fair weather than some, LA is obviously close, and fans of other teams might plan trips around their teams games, and locals would support their (visiting) team.
Casinos would probably buy 5,000 tickets per game for their whales, and our 2 million population would make up the rest.

Lotta' ifs though.

 

[fearsomefour]

The dangerous part of gambling is not the casinos, it is the bookies operating outside of the law.
Huge advantage FA wise for the Raiders if this happens though. No state income tax....living in Vegas as a pro athlete....please.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Casino is one thing, but legal sports betting is another. Nevada is one of only 4 states that allows it.
Would be an interesting dynamic to (legally) place 50 timer on a game, and then walk in to the stadium and see how it plays out. Wonder if they could have a sports book in the stadium? I cant understand the trepidation on this

Greater risk of corruption?

 

[LesBaker]

They might not want it but the distance is such that the other owners might tell them to get over it. One thing some aren't taking into account for the Raiders in Vegas is just how short of a drive it is to Vegas from the LA area and the Raider fans there. They can all easily drive to the game for the day and head home at night after the game and not miss work time.

That's a long day trip oldschool........it's over 500 miles round trip and part of it will be fighting stadium traffic and LA traffic..........but I'd bet there are pretty cheap bus services available.

 

[LesBaker]

Sigh...Perception really is reality.
Of the 9 billion with a b, 250 million with an m was bet in Las Vegas on March Madness, with similar numbers for the SuperBowl.

And of course Goodell knows it. Don't think it will be an issue. He and the Owners are much more concerned with whether or not they would be adequately supported.
Which is a valid concern, and as Les said, most of us are from somewhere else, (although I suspect it's more than 5. Probably at least 10).

Personally, I think it might work - Raider fans are less fair weather than some, LA is obviously close, and fans of other teams might plan trips around their teams games, and locals would support their (visiting) team.
Casinos would probably buy 5,000 tickets per game for their whales, and our 2 million population would make up the rest.

Lotta' ifs though.

OK maybe there are 10, you could be right

Good call on the "high value guests" as the casinos call them to their faces..........I can see that many season tickets getting purchased by casinos along with a few dozen suites too.

 

[OldSchool]

That's a long day trip oldschool........it's over 500 miles round trip and part of it will be fighting stadium traffic and LA traffic..........but I'd bet there are pretty cheap bus services available.

I do almost the same drive from Reno to San Fancisco for our game there. It is a long day but something us crazy fans do.

 

[LesBaker]

I do almost the same drive from Reno to San Fancisco for our game there. It is a long day but something us crazy fans do.

How much does a bus trip cost?

 

[Loyal]

Plus, is Las Vegas just going to build a whole stadium for free? Hell, Mark Davis is one of the NFL poor...Plus, he's going to have make sure his mother lives forever, because I don't think the Davis' want actual ownership shares examined that closely, as I heard Al Davis may have 125% of stock out there...

 

[VegasRam]

Plus, is Las Vegas just going to build a whole stadium for free? Hell, Mark Davis is one of the NFL poor...Plus, he's going to have make sure his mother lives forever, because I don't think the Davis' want actual ownership shares examined that closely, as I heard Al Davis may have 125% of stock out there...

The stadium is being built for UNLV - pretty much a done deal, (at least as much as anything is) - for football and other events.
$1.2 Billion estimated price tag, and will probably end up a 35/65 public/ private split, with the public money (supposedly - stop me if you've heard this before), basically coming from tourism in the form of room, rental car etc. taxes. Davis would obviously have to put up something.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

If you can play a football game in fuckjng China you sure as Hell can play 8 in Vegas

 

[kurtfaulk]

all but about 5 come form other places

was moe green one of them?



.

 

[Merlin]

I live in Vegas and work in and out of the area into Cali. What some don't realize is for LA types going to Vegas for the weekend is a very common excursion. It's a 4 hour drive.

If the Raiders moved to Vegas they would fill that stadium every weekend with 50% or more LA folks. The stadium is also to be located nearer the strip which opens it to foot traffic for both UNLV and Raiders games, which would be outstanding. IMO it would be a huge win for the Raiders and the NFL. Raiders would fit there bigtime.

From what I've heard this is going to happen, the stadium that is, as it is being built for UNLV. If the Raiders and NFL horn in on it early they can ensure the project has the stuff they want in it, which would be more owner boxes they can fill with whales and their entourages before they fly out on those weekends.

Hope this gets done, so I can on some years catch the Rams in my home city. Would be pretty cool.

 

[Loyal]

A team in Las Vegas, would take from LA area like some have said (Raider's fans anyway), but would it make a 2nd team in LA less feasible? I actually think Vegas is a good fit for the Raiders, especially if it's being paid for by others

 

[OldSchool]

How much does a bus trip cost?

Not sure I've never looked into it. We usually have 3 or 4 of us carpooling down.