LAS VEGAS DOME

THE TIME IS NOW

“If you build it, he will come.”

-Field of Dreams

Raider Nation: Sheldon, people will come Sheldon. They’ll come to Las Vegas for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn onto the “Strip” not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your stadium as innocent as children, longing for the future. Of course, we won’t mind if you look around, you’ll say. It’s only $200 per person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and winning they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect fall afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the sidelines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Sheldon. The one constant through all the years, Sheldon, has been football. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But football has marked the time. This stadium, this game: it’s a part of our future, Sheldon. It will remind us of all that is good and great. Oh… people will come Sheldon. People will most definitely come.

Yes, I like football. No, I am not a guy. This girl is ready for some football, and as of this blog penning the dream of a Las Vegas Raiders franchise is now becoming a reality. Oakland Raiders owner, Mark Davis, has stated; “I’ve given my commitment to Las Vegas and if they can come through with what they’re talking about doing, then we’ll go to Las Vegas.” The time is now, and may I reiterate what I have written in a previously posted blog that my money is on Sheldon Adelson. Adelson is the single largest investor in advancing the stadium project and bringing this “Field of Dreams” to the Las Vegas valley.

DO-RE-MI

LasVegasNow.com recently broke down how a stadium project in Las Vegas would be financed. Taxpayers would contribute $750 million of the projected $1.9 billion total cost. Raiders owner Mark Davis has said he will chip in $500 million. According to the report, Adelson would cover the remaining $650 million — plus any cost overruns.

Andy Abboud, vice president of Las Vegas Sands, revealed Adelson’s motivation to make such a commitment, via LasVegasNow.com:

“This is not about Sheldon Adelson being a Raiders fan, this is about Sheldon Adelson being a Las Vegas fan. He wants to take the city to the next level and have a legacy for himself for the years to come and be able to see that the city can grow in a way that we never thought would be possible. . . .

“It will be paid for by the tourists, the Raiders organization and the Adelson family. There is no real negative recourse to the taxpayers under any scenario, because if there is any cost overruns, all of that is borne by the Adleson family, if the stadium doesn’t make money for a few years, then he eats those losses” Adelson’s net worth is $28.4 billion, according to Forbes.com. There are many powerful people in the mix when it comes to a potential move, but Adelson’s wallet is the most influential force by far. Sheldon Adelson is a winner, and we are about to reap the windfall of his generosity by landing the “crown jewel” in all of professional sports…THE NFL.

Momentum is building for the 65,000-seat, $1.9 billion stadium. Renderings released last month show a stadium similar to an earlier one proposed by the Raiders for Los Angeles.

As part of a push to present the idea to the NFL early next year, a tourism committee moved up by a week one of two meetings scheduled for this month. The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee is expected to make a recommendation on the project and one of two proposed sites.

The recommendation will then go to the Nevada Legislature, likely in a special session scheduled early next year, for a vote on using $750 million in public money for the stadium.

Then NFL owners, too, must vote on the move. Though a Las Vegas team was once considered a long shot, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has softened his stance on a football franchise here in the “Entertainment Capital of the World”.

TWO PEAS IN A POD

Vegas, is the perfect fit for the Raiders. After all, they’re the “Bad Boys” and we are “Sin City”…a match made in heaven. Let’s face it; Californians are not going to abandon their team. In fact, they will travel long and hard to come to Las Vegas for a three day stay. They’ll party their A**ES off on Friday and Saturday, and watch the game on Sunday…which equates to another day’s play and another night’s stay. Better yet, if it’s a Monday Night Game, they’ll stay till Tuesday…CHA-CHING!!!

As a Las Vegas DMC and event planner need I remind anyone that there is no downside to this, as everyone will reap the benefits of deal. We have all of the rooms and venues in the world to accommodate game day. Can you imagine a Super Bowl in Las Vegas? We have long stated that if you can’t be at the Super Bowl the next best place to be is here in Las Vegas. Las Vegas, would blow up the Super Bowl, and take it to a completely different level. Because, we do everything bigger and better! It would be a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions if we do not land the Raiders.
Mark my words; this will be the single greatest thing ever to hit Las Vegas. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

Keep calm and carry on,

Belinda

p.s. Real women love football! The rest of ya’ll just stay in the kitchen!!

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097351/quotes www.cbssports.com www.mercurynews.com www.foxsports.com