On Monday, before flying to Houston for a two-day N.F.L. owners meeting, the Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis took a little trip to Las Vegas. He was not there to gamble, but to celebrate.
The previous week, the Nevada legislature held a short special session, called by Gov. Brian Sandoval, to pass a bill that would commit a stunning $750 million in tax dollars to a proposed $1.9 billion football stadium.
Although the bill had plenty of opposition, all the big corporate interests in Las Vegas, especially the casinos, wanted the stadium, which was intended to lure the Raiders.