LAS VEGAS — Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis said Thursday that he wants to move the NFL franchise to Las Vegas to play in a proposed $1.3 billion domed stadium.
Davis made the comments during a meeting of the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
“We want to turn the silver state into the silver and black state,” he told the 11-member group.
Davis said the Raiders would contribute $500 million toward the project backed by billionaire Sheldon Adelson if public financing is approved.
“With your help, it won’t be another 50 years before the Raiders play another football game in Las Vegas,” Davis told the committee. “I say with your help because there’s a misconception that all NFL teams are owned by billionaires that are looking for free stadiums. There’s two problems with that. No. 1, I’m not a billionaire. No. 2, we’re looking to be a partner with you.”
Any relocation by the Raiders would need to be approved by 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners.
“The Raiders were given permission by other clubs to evaluate their options and to consider their alternatives, and they’re doing that,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters Wednesday. “They know that it’s subject to a vote.”
David Beckman joined Davis at the meeting and touted the stadium as a soccer venue.
“To bring a great organization like the Raiders to Las Vegas is incredible,” Beckham said. “But it’s bigger than that. It’s about the MLS coming here. It’s about bringing the biggest European teams here. As a soccer player, to be able to come on an offseason trip to Vegas, to America, that’s what you want as a player.”
Also speaking on behalf of the project was Tim Leiweke, the former president and chief executive of AEG who spearheaded two unsuccessful attempts by that company to build stadiums in downtown Los Angeles. Leiweke’s brother, Tod, is the NFL’s chief operating officer.
The Raiders, who signed a one-year lease to remain at the Coliseum in Oakland earlier this year, have long sought a new stadium.
They teamed with the San Diego Chargers last year to propose an open-air venue in Carson, California, but NFL owners in January instead approved the Rams’ plan to move to Los Angeles and build a stadium in Inglewood.
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