Any real hope of the Oakland Raiders backing out of their relocation to Las Vegas in 2020 can pretty much be thrown out the window. According to Adam Candee of the Las Vegas Sun, the Raiders’ financing of the new venue, via Bank of America, is on the verge of closing.
https://twitter.com/adamcandee/status/908431726250139648
This means that all the ducks are in a row for Raiders owner Mark Davis and Co. to pack up and move following the 2019 campaign. The financing deal itself calls for $1 billion, which will help all parties cover the cost of what is expected to be a magnificent venue in the desert metropolis. Bank of America stepped up when former investor Sheldon Adelson backed out of his financing deal with the team.
Though, it also looks like the Raiders themselves will be remaining in Oakland beyond 2018 — when its current lease with the Oakland Coliseum authority expires.
This season may be all about getting that Lombardi Trophy and returning it to Northern California. But as relocation nears, that will be replaced by the imminent departure of two professional sports teams in Oakland (Golden State Warriors are also moving to San Francisco).
One has to wonder if it will lead to a repeat of the empty stadiums we have seen in Southern California thus far this NFL season.