[newopty]

I haven't taken the Oakland Raiders rumored move to Las Vegas seriously but here is an excerpt from the knowledgeable Peter King in his weekly column Monday Morning Quarterback:

4. I think the Raiders are serious about Las Vegas. And Vegas is serious about the Raiders.

5. I think, though I’m on record as saying the Raiders belong in northern California, there’s another issue here: The league should not stand in the way of a franchise playing in Nevada if it makes financial sense. It’s always seemed a strawman argument to me about the NFL not doing business where there is legal sports gambling, with the fear that players could become associated with gamblers. Well, there are gamblers everywhere. And they can get their hooks into players in every NFL market right now. Playing in Vegas, to me, would not jeopardize the integrity of football. At all.


For anyone that is interested here is a link to the whole column:

NFL Mock Draft: Peter King's annual try at predicting first round | The MMQB with Peter King

[Camaro5]

I've read that betting on any pro team based in Vegas wouldn't be allowed. It's not a bad idea, but probably wouldn't make much of a difference. I also think that with the amount of money players make these days it isn't likely that an outside source could have a lot of influence.

The other issue is where the team would play. Getting financing for a new stadium probably wouldn't be difficult, but who would really trust the Raiders? They have a reputation for coming and going and it's questionable how long they would stick around if it wasn't working out.

[yellowsnow]

Not the first, second, or third time I have heard rumors about pro teams coming here. Just looked outside and I see no pigs flying so I would guess it's not happening. But I am frequently wrong!

[SportyandMisty]

Just so long as they bring the Raiderettes with them.

[BBMW]

I think this is more serious than previous rumors. The question is whether Davis is just using a possible move to Vegas as a bargaining chip, or if he's serious.

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

Not the first, second, or third time I have heard rumors about pro teams coming here. Just looked outside and I see no pigs flying so I would guess it's not happening. But I am frequently wrong!

[C_A_Braun]

Based on the previous thread about gang crime being on the rise, I am sure that the Raiders would attract much the same type of crowd that they were attracting in L.A. and probably attract in Oakland (I don't know what kinda crowd they attract in Oakland since I am not a football fan). That is an element I prefer not to be around so even if I were a football fan, it is HIGHLY unlikely that I would put my or my family's lives at risk to attend a Raider game.

[LasVegasPlayer]

Getting public funding is a huge underdog. Keep in mind that the family trying to bring the Raiders here also owns R-J that they are using as a mouthpiece for the agenda so this time around it is getting more noise than usual.

Also, there is nothing that says gambling would be forbidden on Nevada sports. GCB has final say there. The ban on UNLV/UNR was lifted 15 years ago. It would make no sense to all at a sudden backpedal. The college ban was lifted because Sen. McCain alleged it as an admission by regulators that the games with local ties could be influenced.

The only instate ban since that I am aware of is an irrelevant NBA scrimmage. It was the only way the league would permit the ASG to he played here. The handle on a game like that is meaningless.

[cre8lite]

in todays rj

"The Oakland Raiders will move 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."

Reports: Mark Davis to pledge Raiders move to Las Vegas if domed stadium is built | Las Vegas Review-Journal

[robr2]

Originally Posted by C_A_Braun

Based on the previous thread about gang crime being on the rise, I am sure that the Raiders would attract much the same type of crowd that they were attracting in L.A. and probably attract in Oakland (I don't know what kinda crowd they attract in Oakland since I am not a football fan). That is an element I prefer not to be around so even if I were a football fan, it is HIGHLY unlikely that I would put my or my family's lives at risk to attend a Raider game.

Raiders gear was adopted by gangs when they were in LA but the people attending the games aren't gang members. The Raider fan is stereotyped as a loud drunkard more interested in creating trouble than watching the game. But eliminating that type of fan and behavior has been a focus of Raider management for years. They know that the ones that pay $250 for a ticket on top of $50 for parking don't want to be harassed by some drunk. They toss people out and cancel season tickets all the time.

[Willy702]

Originally Posted by robr2

Raiders gear was adopted by gangs when they were in LA but the people attending the games aren't gang members. The Raider fan is stereotyped as a loud drunkard more interested in creating trouble than watching the game. But eliminating that type of fan and behavior has been a focus of Raider management for years. They know that the ones that pay $250 for a ticket on top of $50 for parking don't want to be harassed by some drunk. They toss people out and cancel season tickets all the time.

Funny you mention the $250 amount. That is what they have been charging for season tickets for last 5 years now to keep ticket holders in all but the more premium locations from dumping their seats. I know three different season ticket holders who keep expecting an increase at which point they will dump their seats only to find out its still $25 per game. And the expected has happened, the rowdy and drunk fans remain a big presence.