Schaaf still working on deal to keep Raiders in Oakland
OAKLAND (BCN) - Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf says she's still working to build a new football stadium for the Raiders in her city even though Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill today that's aimed at luring the team to Las Vegas.
At a ceremony at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, which would share a proposed $1.9 billion stadium with the Raiders if it's built and the team moves, Sandoval signed into law legislation that authorizes spending $750 million in hotel room tax revenues to help build a new stadium.
Nevada's Assembly voted 28-13 in favor of the bill on Friday and the Nevada Senate passed it by a 16-5 margin on Thursday.
Raiders owner Mark Davis has pledged to contribute $500 million toward the cost of building the stadium and casino owner Sheldon Adelson has promised to contribute an additional $650 million.
However, three-fourths of the National Football League's 32 owners must approve a possible Raiders move to Las Vegas, as they must approve any proposal to move a team.
"The Nevada vote and the governor's signing was something we expected," Schaaf said in a statement.
But she said, "It does not mean that this is a done deal."
Schaaf said, "The final decision about where the Raiders play in the future will be made by the league and its owners."
She said, "Like so many of the team's diehard fans, I believe the Raiders and Oakland have a shared identity and destiny, and keeping the team in Oakland where they were born and raised has immeasurable value to the fans, the team, the league and the city."
Schaaf, who has vowed not to spend any public money for a new stadium, said, "That's why I will continue to work to provide the Raiders and other NFL owners a viable, responsible stadium option to consider in Oakland, regardless of Nevada lawmakers' decision."
The Raiders signed a lease extension agreement in April that keeps the team at the Oakland Coliseum at least through the end of this year and possibly for two additional years.