The entire idea of the Oakland Raiders potentially moving to Las Vegas, the mecca of gambling in the United States, seemed utterly ridiculous just a couple short months ago.
Without any other real options outside of Oakland, the team has continued to push for the possibility of relocating to Sin City. With local leaders in Vegas appearing to be on board, the next step here is feeling out other NFL owners to see where they might stand.
In this, it appears the potential of the Raiders moving to Las Vegas is gaining some traction around the NFL.
According to Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback, multiple owners have come out in support of a potential Raiders relocation to the desert.
“I think the stigma about Las Vegas is much different today than where it was in the past,” San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York said.
This can’t be considered too surprising. Any potential move of the Raiders out of the Bay Area would be a financial boon for the 49ers.
While former Raiders CEO Amy Trask had indicated in the past that the idea of building a new stadium in Oakland with Levi’s just being erected in Santa Clara made no sense, the 49ers continue to compete with the Raiders for the Bay Area market.
If that competition were to come to a conclusion, the value of York’s 49ers franchise would increase a great deal.
Without many ulterior motives himself, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair doesn’t seem to agree with the whole idea of the Raiders moving to Vegas creating a double standard within the NFL’s stance on gambling.
“I would look favorably at it. I would like to hear all the arguments, make sure we are not overlooking something,” McNair said. “But you have gambling all around you now, lotteries on every street corner. I don’t think it is the issue we viewed it to be 20 years ago.”
There’s a good point to be had here. Even in the Raiders’ current home market of the Bay Area, there are a ton of casinos being built, even one right off the famed Highway 101 a bit further north of Oakland itself.
If there’s no issues in California, why would Vegas present a problem?
The larger issue at hand, at least to some, is a question regarding the Vegas market actually being able to support a NFL team.
As one of the most-growing areas in the Western United States, this likely wouldn’t be much of an issue. It’s also important to note that the Nevada city is a central location for Raiders fans in both Oakland and Los Angeles.
New York Jets owner Woody Johnson tends to agree with this assumption.
“Las Vegas is a very exciting market. Nevada is a very good place from a tax standpoint, very low taxes and no income tax.”
With the Raiders seemingly all in regarding relocation to Vegas and local leaders expressing their support of the idea, continued support from the league’s 31 other owners will be big here.
Remember, the Raiders situation in Oakland right now seems to be unsustainable moving forward. If this continues to be the case, the expectation has to be that more owners will publicly show support for relocation.