Raiders relocation is on the agenda for next week’s NFL owners meetings, an NFL official told CSN California. The team’s application to move to Las Vegas was submitted in January, and the winter has been spent bolstering a $1.9 billion stadium proposal that includes $750 million in public funds and will be financed by Bank of America.
The league official said the discussion should start on Monday. If remaining issues are resolved, NFL owners could vote to approve relocation that day, or later in the March 26-29 meetings.
The Raiders need 24 of 32 votes to approve relocation to Las Vegas. It’s uncertain how a vote will go, though reports suggest the Raiders are in good shape to gain approval for a Las Vegas move.
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There are a few outstanding issues, including the fact the Raiders haven’t formally completed a stadium lease with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, but none are considering major roadblocks to approval either next week or in time.
The NFL’s stadium and finance committees are expected to make a recommendation on the Raiders’ relocation application at the league meetings, which could help sway undecided votes.
The NFL wasn’t moved by a recent update from Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf, who presented a plan a few weeks back that reportedly failed to excite the stadium and finance committees.
It is possible the league will discuss Raiders relocation without a vote. That could happen if issues remain outstanding, though a vote could occur at a league meeting in May or at any time by conference call when questions are answered.
NFL
If the Raiders are approved for relocation, they would start constructing a stadium expected to be completed in 2020. The team has team options to play at Oakland Coliseum in 2017 and 2018, and have said they plan to exercise them if relocation in approved. It remains uncertain where they would play in 2019. That might be addressed next week.