The long-building momentum driving a prospective Raiders push to Las Vegas stalled earlier this year when Sheldon Adelson and Goldman Sachs bailed on the venture, leaving many questions for the Silver and Black. Jerry Jones may now be trying to answer some of them himself. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets the Cowboys owner is trying to gather investors to fill Adelson’s role in this project.
Adelson was set to contribute $650MM to a Vegas stadium, one slated to cost approximately $1.9 billion. After the team lost the backing of Adelson and Goldman Sachs, the prognosis for a Raiders relocation to Vegas plummeted to “all but dead” status. Conflicting reports have surfaced on Jones potentially getting involved here. A Cowboys source said the longtime owner is not trying to help finance a Raiders Vegas venue, but others told Cole (Twitter link) that he has attempted to do so.
Jones trying to fill in here has raised issues around the league, Cole tweets. A positive viewpoint stems from Jones’ influence among the other owners. He’s been intrigued about a team opening up the Vegas market and has considerable power within the group of owners. However, Jones reaching out like this would help lead some to conclude, per Cole (via Twitter), the Raiders are unable to gather sufficient financing after receiving previous commitments themselves. Mark Davis helped secure a record $750MM commitment in public funds last year, but the momentum here has stalled after the financial giants left. Another concern to come out of a Jones-Raiders relationship, per Cole (on Twitter): the possibility it could provide the Cowboys owner with undue control over another team and how it’s run.
While doubts have understandably surfaced about the viability of the Raiders moving to Nevada, team president Mark Badain said recently the club has two banks willing to loan money to make up for Adelson’s withdrawal. He remains in high spirit about a move but wouldn’t exactly be expected to indicate otherwise publicly so soon after Adelson abandoned the project. Nothing much has come out of the Oakland front, with the latest development in the Ronnie Lott-led proposal not moving the needle much.
The “not moving the needle much” comment is from Jason Cole, and the agenda he always pushes. Just like last year with Carson.
sounds like you’re also pushing an agenda…just opposite Cole’s
Jerry doesn’t want anyone moving to the Austin-San Antonio area, which honestly looks like the best option after staying in Oakland or moving to Las Vegas.
true…but there is zero movement on that front
I can see some other mid sized cities getting teams before adding another Texas team. Louisville could be a team we see in the future.
Super bowl 60 in Vegas can’t wait
Aside from a small group of fans in the bay area, the NFL fans in general seem to be excited about a move to vegas. The league should just assist Davis to make it happen or force a buyout and sell the team to someone with the means to build a stadium. Davis doesn’t belong in the league.