Raiders owner Mark Davis thought Oakland politicos were difficult? Stubborn? Formidable? Welcome to Las Vegas, the land of illusion, entertainment, fine dining, and more poker faces at the negotiating table than he ever imagined.
His hope for presenting the owners with a $1.9 billion domed stadium deal at the NFL meetings next month, one that would secure approval for the Raiders’ relocation to Southern Nevada, instead absorbed back-to-back setbacks within a matter of hours. This was the scorched-earth equivalent of a triple-digit July heat wave.
On Monday night, Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson withdrew his $650 million pledge for the 65,000-seat facility.