NFL Las Vegas Thread

Post #1 » by **Mr. E** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 2:19 pm

The Nevada Senate voted to approve $750 million in public funding for the construction of a new stadium which will be designed to attract an NFL franchise.

A lot of wheeling & dealing went into the vote, and there will be no public vote on the matter. It still needs to clear the state assembly by 2/3 to pass.

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/oct/11/critics-bash-public-funding-for-proposed-nfl-stadi/

I cannot fault Las Vegas for making this push. They would make an interesting addition to the NFL landscape. I do have a major problem with the state being able to allocate that kind of money without some sort of public vote, even if it is a non-binding plebiscite vote. At least give the people the illusion that their opinions matter.

Post #2 » by **bleu** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 4:20 pm

Yeah, like it or not, this is more and more how building venues in pro sports is going. People don't get a say in where their money goes, and I understand why some Las Vegas residents would be very angry about it.

HOWEVER, politics aside, Vegas is probably the city that could benefit the very most from having an NFL franchise in my opinion. I mean, an NFL team could help most major cities, but I think it will especially give Vegas a boost. Along with that, from what I've seen and heard, they are expecting a big portion of the money to come from a hotel tax. That to me makes way more sense than taxing residents who may or may not care about having a team.

Ultimately, as someone who is usually either in or passing through Vegas three or more times a year, I'm really hoping it happens. I wouldn't hop allegiances or anything, but I'd certainly be able to make it to an NFL game more often.

goober · Post #3 » by **goober** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 8:11 pm

I probably would hop allegiances, i try to like teams closest to me but i hate denver area sports, so i could potentially do it

Blazerbob · Post #4 » by **Blazerbob** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 3:02 am

I don't think Las Vegas could support an NFL. The base population is way too small.

Post #5 » by **Cactus Jack** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 3:28 am

Da Las Vegas Raiders? Sounds funny.

Post #6 » by **Cactus Jack** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 3:28 am

Goober wrote:I probably would hop allegiances, i try to like teams closest to me but i hate denver area sports, so i could potentially do it

Post #7 » by **bleu** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 3:40 am

Blazerbob wrote:I don't think Las Vegas could support an NFL. The base population is way too small.

No, I strongly disagree. The Las Vegas metropolitan area is larger than some other NFL cities, including Cincinnati, Nashville, Jacksonville, New Orleans, and of course, Green Bay. It's very close to the size of Indianapolis, Kansas City, Charlotte, and Pittsburgh. Along with that, it is a very quickly growing city, which also has major tourism to help. I also believe they would draw in a lot of fans from Utah, Northern Arizona, and of course, Nevada.

El Turco · Post #8 » by **El Turco** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 11:16 am

bleu wrote:
Blazerbob wrote:I don't think Las Vegas could support an NFL. The base population is way too small.

No, I strongly disagree. The Las Vegas metropolitan area is larger than some other NFL cities, including Cincinnati, Nashville, Jacksonville, New Orleans, and of course, Green Bay. It's very close to the size of Indianapolis, Kansas City, Charlotte, and Pittsburgh. Along with that, it is a very quickly growing city, which also has major tourism to help. I also believe they would draw in a lot of fans from Utah, Northern Arizona, and of course, Nevada.

it is kind of a transplant city though, that might hurt ability to build dedicated fanbase

Otis Driftwood · Post #9 » by **Otis Driftwood** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 11:34 am

Blazerbob wrote:I don't think Las Vegas could support an NFL. The base population is way too small.

I don't know... that stadium will be full every week. Raider fans... visiting fans doing a weekend in Vegas... casino customers and their comp'd seats (all paid for of course)...

I have a feeling the NFL is going to look foolish for not getting there sooner. So will the NHL.

Post #10 » by **Cactus Jack** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 1:47 am

Otis Driftwood wrote:
Blazerbob wrote:I don't think Las Vegas could support an NFL. The base population is way too small.

I don't know... that stadium will be full every week. Raider fans... visiting fans doing a weekend in Vegas... casino customers and their comp'd seats (all paid for of course)...

I have a feeling the NFL is going to look foolish for not getting there sooner. So will the NHL.

Its very possible the NFL (Raiders) & NBA (Expansion) follow the NHL there in the not too distant future.

The NBA could be looking to expand here soon. The Raiders story is nothing new.

Otis Driftwood · Post #11 » by **Otis Driftwood** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 2:02 am

Cactus Jack wrote:
Otis Driftwood wrote:
Blazerbob wrote:I don't think Las Vegas could support an NFL. The base population is way too small.

I don't know... that stadium will be full every week. Raider fans... visiting fans doing a weekend in Vegas... casino customers and their comp'd seats (all paid for of course)...

I have a feeling the NFL is going to look foolish for not getting there sooner. So will the NHL.

Its very possible the NFL (Raiders) & NBA (Expansion) follow the NHL there in the not too distant future.

The NBA could be looking to expand here soon. The Raiders story is nothing new.

The NBA would be a natural fit there. I actually thought they would be there by now.

bluejerseyjinx · Post #12 » by **bluejerseyjinx** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 3:31 am

Looks like the Raiders will be filing their paperwork in January to start the process of going to Las Vegas.

Post #13 » by **Mr. E** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 8:28 pm

So the plan looks like they'll remain in Oakland for the next two seasons before starting play in Las Vegas in 2019. That should give them time to finish that stadium & the infrastructure surrounding it if they start soon and actually have the funding. I can't shake the feeling that we'll see some delays over the next few years.

Stoked · Post #14 » by **Stoked** » Fri Nov 4, 2016 2:27 am

Well I know about 30 people that will charter a bus once a year for Raiders/Broncos games in Vegas every year.

Roll on up to the stadium on game day with #BroncosCountry swag flying proud.

Post #15 » by **Cactus Jack** » Thu Dec 15, 2016 2:31 am

Jim Irsay: No optimism for Oakland, San Diego markets

NFL owners, unanimously approved a final tenant-lease contract between the Chargers and Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday.

The Chargers have until Jan. 15 to exercise the team's option to move to Los Angeles.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18280617/nfl-owners-ok-rams-chargers-stadium-deal-los-angeles-home-markets-remain-play

RavenMad31 · Post #16 » by **RavenMad31** » Thu Dec 15, 2016 3:08 pm

Arda K wrote:
bleu wrote:
Blazerbob wrote:I don't think Las Vegas could support an NFL. The base population is way too small.

No, I strongly disagree. The Las Vegas metropolitan area is larger than some other NFL cities, including Cincinnati, Nashville, Jacksonville, New Orleans, and of course, Green Bay. It's very close to the size of Indianapolis, Kansas City, Charlotte, and Pittsburgh. Along with that, it is a very quickly growing city, which also has major tourism to help. I also believe they would draw in a lot of fans from Utah, Northern Arizona, and of course, Nevada.

it is kind of a transplant city though, that might hurt ability to build dedicated fanbase

Exhibit A:

Stoked wrote:Well I know about 30 people that will charter a bus once a year for Raiders/Broncos games in Vegas every year.

Roll on up to the stadium on game day with #BroncosCountry swag flying proud.

I'm all the way in the Midwest, so maybe I shouldn't expect to, but does anyone know anybody who is a born and bred native of Las Vegas? It seems like the type of city where people move there, they work there for a couple or few years and then move elsewhere. The NFL or the city of Las Vegas won't care about this too much because they are making their money at the gate and in the neighborhood around the stadium, but I anticipate the games making Las Vegas a destination for opposing teams' fans for making weekend trips. I see a lot of their games feeling like neutral site, not home games.

Post #17 » by **bleu** » Thu Dec 15, 2016 6:30 pm

RavenMad31 wrote:
Arda K wrote:
bleu wrote:
No, I strongly disagree. The Las Vegas metropolitan area is larger than some other NFL cities, including Cincinnati, Nashville, Jacksonville, New Orleans, and of course, Green Bay. It's very close to the size of Indianapolis, Kansas City, Charlotte, and Pittsburgh. Along with that, it is a very quickly growing city, which also has major tourism to help. I also believe they would draw in a lot of fans from Utah, Northern Arizona, and of course, Nevada.

it is kind of a transplant city though, that might hurt ability to build dedicated fanbase

Exhibit A:

Stoked wrote:Well I know about 30 people that will charter a bus once a year for Raiders/Broncos games in Vegas every year.

Roll on up to the stadium on game day with #BroncosCountry swag flying proud.

I'm all the way in the Midwest, so maybe I shouldn't expect to, but does anyone know anybody who is a born and bred native of Las Vegas? It seems like the type of city where people move there, they work there for a couple or few years and then move elsewhere. The NFL or the city of Las Vegas won't care about this too much because they are making their money at the gate and in the neighborhood around the stadium, but I anticipate the games making Las Vegas a destination for opposing teams' fans for making weekend trips. I see a lot of their games feeling like neutral site, not home games.

I actually know quite a few people from Vegas. You'd be surprised at the amount of suburbs surrounding the city, and it's constantly growing at a very rapid rate. While I agree that the home games would likely have a ton of visiting fans and it might not be the strongest home field advantage, I don't think they'd have any troubling selling a ton of season tickets.

Otis Driftwood · Post #18 » by **Otis Driftwood** » Thu Dec 15, 2016 6:41 pm

bleu wrote:
RavenMad31 wrote:
Arda K wrote:
it is kind of a transplant city though, that might hurt ability to build dedicated fanbase

Exhibit A:

Stoked wrote:Well I know about 30 people that will charter a bus once a year for Raiders/Broncos games in Vegas every year.

Roll on up to the stadium on game day with #BroncosCountry swag flying proud.

I'm all the way in the Midwest, so maybe I shouldn't expect to, but does anyone know anybody who is a born and bred native of Las Vegas? It seems like the type of city where people move there, they work there for a couple or few years and then move elsewhere. The NFL or the city of Las Vegas won't care about this too much because they are making their money at the gate and in the neighborhood around the stadium, but I anticipate the games making Las Vegas a destination for opposing teams' fans for making weekend trips. I see a lot of their games feeling like neutral site, not home games.

I actually know quite a few people from Vegas. You'd be surprised at the amount of suburbs surrounding the city, and it's constantly growing at a very rapid rate. While I agree that the home games would likely have a ton of visiting fans and it might not be the strongest home field advantage, I don't think they'd have any troubling selling a ton of season tickets.

And - visiting fans showing up at an opponents stadium is pretty much a non-issue now especially with the "hot" teams. Steelers fans... Cowboys fans... Broncos fans... Raiders fans... even Seahawks fans all travel very well. They will grab tickets no matter what.