Raiders won’t play any preseason games in Las Vegas this season

Las Vegas is likely years from hosting its first Raiders game.

For now, Glendale will have to do.

The NFL announced its exhibiton schedule Monday afternoon. The closest the Raiders will come to Las Vegas is Glendale, Arizona, when the club opens its preseason slate against the Cardinals sometime between Aug. 10-14. Their other road game is scheduled two weeks later against the Cowboys, its date falling between Aug. 24-27.

Oakland will host the Rams in Week 2 from Aug. 17-21 and the Seahawks on Aug. 31 or Sept. 1. Exact dates and times have yet to be finalized. None of the games will be nationally broadcast.

Glendale is about 280 miles from Vegas,or a little more than a four-hour drive. That’s doable for casual drivers. Dallas, about four times that distance at 1,204, is not.

On March 27, NFL owners approved the Raiders for relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. Their physical move, however, could take three-plus years, as a stadium is planned and constructed near the Strip. So, the Raiders will continue to play their home games at the Oakland Coliseum, about an eight-hour drive from Vegas given its approximate 550-mile divide.

The Raiders’ regular-season schedule will be finalized before the April 27-29 draft.

Their home and away opponents already are known. They have seven true home games, hosting the Jets, Cowboys, Giants, Ravens, Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs. An eighth against the Patriots will be played in Mexico City. Their road opponents are the Titans, Bills, Dolphins, Eagles, Redskins, Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs.

At about 280 miles, the Los Angeles Chargers are the closest the Raiders come this regular season.

But ticket acquisition to that game is expected to be extremely competitive, given the club’s fan following in Los Angeles and the Chargers playing at a temporary 30,000-seat soccer stadium, the StubHub Center, in Carson, California So, the most accessible road trip in 2017 will be Glendale, an exhibition affair that probably won’t see quarterback Derek Carr and other key starters play more than a series or two.

Give it time, Las Vegas.

The NFL should be here soon enough.