May 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; General view of Oakland Raiders helmet and NFL Wilson Duke football at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign on the Las Vegas strip on Las Vegas Blvd. Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured) has pledged $500 million toward building a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas at a total cost of $1.4 billion. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (not pictured) said Davis can explore his options in Las Vegas but would require 24 of 32 owners to approve the move. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The people of Las Vegas want an NFL team -- and the Oakland Raiders are prepared to give the people what they want.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Raiders owner Mark Davis plans to file official relocation papers to move his team from Oakland to Las Vegas.
The Raiders will file relocation papers to move from Oakland to Las Vegas, according to sources familiar with their thinking. After a year of planning, debate, and bold action, after many years of a sub-par stadium option in Oakland, the Raiders have made a firm decision on their future.
The stunning move, one that should be made official in the coming days, is expected to add a new city to the NFL's ever-changing landscape. The Raiders would need 24 votes from the league's owners to formally make the move, a vote that will come this spring. [...]
As for the support from the room of owners, it's described as making progress and gathering momentum. There isn't nearly the opposition some anticipated originally. And it continues to build, with some of the most prominent owners vocally in favor of it.
Davis has stated that his plan is for the Raiders to remain in Oakland during construction of their stadium in Las Vegas, if the relocation is approved.
The Las Vegas Review Journal reported Thursday that the Raiders had secured financing for their move through Goldman Sachs, even if the team is unable to come to terms with Las Vegas casino mogul and prospective team partner Sheldon Adelson on a potential stadium deal. The current plan calls for Adelson to invest $650 million in the move.
Steelers owner Art Rooney II confirmed to the Review Journal that NFL team owners were told that the Raiders had secured that option at a Wednesday meeting at New York. Three-quarters of the league's 32 owners would have to approve relocation. A vote is not expected until the owners' annual meeting in Phoenix in late March.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in November the ideal scenario was for the Raiders to stay in Oakland. According to multiple reports, however, Oakland has made no significant progress on an acceptable stadium proposal.
As far back as May of last year, NFL owners were openly considering the question of sports gambling as it would pertain to a team in Las Vegas. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank acknowledged the league would need to "build a wall" between sportsbooks and the NFL, but he sounded optimistic a solution could be found.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.