Reports: Mark Davis to pledge Raiders move to Las Vegas if domed stadium is built

Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis stands on the field before an NFL football game between the Raiders and the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Cleveland. Oakland won 27-20. (David Richard/AP)

The Oakland Raiders will seek relocation to Las Vegas if a domed stadium is built here, according to two reports.

Both Sports Illustrated and the Bleacher Report reported Monday that Raiders owner Mark Davis will pledge Thursday to move the team to Southern Nevada if a 65,000-seat stadium is built along Tropicana Avenue near the Strip.

Davis is scheduled to appear Thursday — the same day as the NFL Draft’s first round — at a Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee meeting at UNLV. A plan to build a $1.3 billion domed stadium will be discussed at that meeting.

The reports said Davis will promise Thursday to make the “Las Vegas Raiders” happen if the stadium is built. Multiple Review-Journal requests for comment from Davis were unsuccessful.

The stadium project is backed by casino operator Las Vegas Sands and Majestic Realty. In a preliminary funding plan, the companies proposed that tourist taxes cover about two-thirds of the project’s cost. Las Vegas Sands officials have said the project, which also would serve as the new home for the UNLV football team, is economically viable and would move forward regardless of whether an NFL team moved here because it would attract new special events and increase visitation.

The tourism infrastructure committee will issue recommendations this summer and does not have the authority to approve the stadium project. The use of tax dollars to fund the stadium would require the approval of the Nevada Legislature. Unless called into special session, the Legislature will not convene until February 2017.

Meanwhile, a new organization will attempt to build public support for the proposed domed stadium through a website and social media campaign.

The Support Las Vegas Dome website was developed by “a consortium of people and organizations excited to see the Las Vegas Dome become a reality,” said a spokeswoman for the group.

Paula Yakubik, managing partner and owner of the MassMedia public relations firm, said in an emailed response to questions that “response has been overwhelming” to building the stadium and that Las Vegas Sands has been “supportive” of the organization.

The supportlasvegasdome.com website links to the initial presentation Sands and Majestic Realty made to the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee on March 24.

The site also contains statistical details and economic development projections on the proposed stadium as well as a list of potential events that could be housed in the facility. The website emphasizes the stadium would be an important tourism asset for the city and that Las Vegas is the largest city in the country without a high-capacity venue for special events.

Another page within the site links to a petition drive, but Yakubik did not say how many people have signed the petition.

By late Monday, the Support Las Vegas Dome Facebook page had 138 “likes” and the @SupportLVDome Twitter account had 299 followers and 228 “likes.”

Even if the Las Vegas stadium were built, the Raiders would require three-quarters approval by NFL owners, or 24 of 32 votes, to relocate. Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reported there is a growing sentiment among owners to allow the move, but some old-school owners such as John Mara of the New York Giants are against a franchise moving to Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, ESPN reported the Raiders are close to selling out their season tickets for the first time in franchise history. Davis said the team might “have a waiting list for season tickets for the first time.”

Raiders president Marc Badain said the team’s season ticket numbers in Oakland have grown from 30,000 in 2013 to almost 50,000 for next season.

The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson.

Bill Bradley is sports editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at 702-387-2909 or bbradley@reviewjournal.com. Find on Twitter: @billbradleyLV Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Find him on Twitter: @RickVelotta. Review-Journal reporter Matt Youmans contributed to this story.