Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, citing sources familiar with the Raiders’ thinking, reports that the team will file relocation papers to move from Oakland to Las Vegas.
According to Rapoport, if the Raiders get the 24 votes from owners it would take for them to relocate to Las Vegas, they could relocate in time for the 2020 season. Rapoport says that the Raiders would remain Oakland for the next two years before making the move to Nevada.
The decision to relocate the franchise should be made official in the coming days.
In regards to Oakland, sources have told Rapoport that they’ve made no progress to keep the team in the Bay Area and haven’t come up with a stadium proposal that the league considers credible.
All things considered, Rapoport says that it’s now just a matter of time before the Raiders move.
The Raiders have until February 15 to officially file for relocation.
As of now, the Raiders and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson have yet to reach an agreement to pay for the proposed $1.9 billion stadium project. However, the expectation is that Adelson would contribute $650 million with $500 million coming from the Raiders and the remaining $750 million coming from a hotel room tax.
The team has since presented a plan to league owners that would finance the stadium with the help of Goldman Sachs.
Rapoport says that the Raiders hold the Adelson plan in higher regard, given all that they’ve done to help the team turn Las Vegas into a viable option for the franchise.
In terms of ownership support for a Raiders relocation, Rapoport mentions that they are making progress and the idea is gathering some momentum while opposition appears to be subsiding.
We’ll have more regarding the Raiders possibly moving to Las Vegas as the news is available.
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