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| -Short Attention Span Theater- | |
| NFL's addiction to free public money fuels Raiders move to Las Vegas | |
| 2017-03-28 | |
| [Guardian] For decades the NFL wanted nothing to do with Las Vegas. As the city boomed in the Nevada desert and other professional team sports at least dabbled with the idea of a Las Vegas franchise, the world’s most lucrative league stayed away. Even talking about Las Vegas meant opening the door to gambling and the NFL wasn’t going down that alley. But now that Nevada has $750m of public money to offer the Oakland Raiders for a gleaming new stadium, the NFL is embracing Sin City. Even championing it. When the league’s owners approved the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas on Monday, their 31-1 vote was a formality. The NFL had already signaled their full acceptance of America’s gambling mecca. Old family gaming competition comes to an end. One takes the casinos, the other the stadium. Taxpayers front the bill and everyone is happy.
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| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #16 As a San Diego Charger fan and near-lifelong Raider Hater, I actually feel for the Oakland fans. Wonders never cease |
| Posted by: Frank G 2017-03-28 19:47 |
| #15 Trump wants a bit more money perhaps he could reevaluate the NFL's position as a non-profit. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2017-03-28 18:31 |
| #14 So, do the Raiders now have to pick Kaepernick as their first rounder? Michael Sam coming back from the CFL? Enquiring minds, etc. |
| Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy 2017-03-28 16:09 |
| #13 Remember when the NFL commish was supposed to protect fans' interests and integrity of the League above the greedy interests of individual owners? No more. Goodell has green-lighted to two team moves in a single year. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2017-03-28 16:04 |
| #12 Stephen Ross - Miami Dolphins was the no vote. Heard that Oakland makes less than 1/2 of what the Cowboys make on stadium related revenue hence the need for a new stadium. When the original LV deal fell through Oakland tripled the rent they were charging the Raiders. It's a typical scenario of greed and corruption all the way around. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2017-03-28 13:55 |
| #11 Have you been to a Raiders home game recently? Oakland is a dump, the fans are gangbangers and playacting freaks for the most part, and the revenue base has to be shrinking year after year for any hope of new facilities. I'm no fan but getting out of the bay area and the 49's shadow can't be a bad economic choice. Maybe Spanos and the chargers can move upstate and leave the soccer stadium? |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2017-03-28 13:20 |
| #10 First major pro sports team in Vegas? This will end badly for the Raiders. Posted by Raj The welfare of the team in not the objective. The $750m of public money is the objective. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2017-03-28 12:49 |
| #9 My guess would be Dean Spanos Spanos? He voted definitely out of principle, then. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2017-03-28 12:47 |
| #8 First major pro sports team in Vegas? This will end badly for the Raiders. |
| Posted by: Raj 2017-03-28 12:36 |
| #7 Big sports franchise owners no longer have any loyalty to their fans. It is only a matter of time until the fans return the favor (looking at last years ratings that might already have started). When micro-concussions start making headlines again few will stand up for the NFL owners and a lot of folks will side with players that were exploited and lied to because benefit of doubt dies with loyalty. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2017-03-28 11:45 |
| #6 I'd like to know who voted no. My guess would be Dean Spanos. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2017-03-28 11:30 |
| #5 I managed to survive last season without watching football (a habit Kapernik helped me break) and don't see much reason to start back up again. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2017-03-28 09:34 |
| #4 I'd like to know who voted no. Did the owner vote no out of principle or self interest. |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2017-03-28 09:14 |
| #3 Old family gaming competition comes to an end Charles Bidwill could not be reached for comment. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2017-03-28 09:01 |
| #2 and the NFL wasn’t going down that alley. Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. -- Groucho Marx |
| Posted by: SteveS 2017-03-28 08:47 |
| #1 If you claim to be a Second Amendment supporter, but you watch the No Firearms League, you are a hypocrite... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2017-03-28 08:15 |