Business, civic leaders hail decision to relocate Raiders to Las Vegas

Southern Nevada business and political leaders on Monday cheered the NFL owners’ decision to relocate the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas, bolstering the city’s status as the nation’s leading entertainment destination.

Business and gaming industry leaders applauded the 31-1 vote conducted in Phoenix that clears the way for construction of a stadium for the team and other events. Local, state and federal politicians weighed in with their hopes that the Raiders’ arrival would be a catalyst for more visitation — and more taxable revenue that could be used to solve other state problems from education and health care to infrastructure.

GATHERING TO CELEBRATE

Near the Welcome to Las Vegas sign about 30 people, most of them members of Laborers Local 872, gathered to celebrate the announcement of the Raiders’ move to Southern Nevada.

“It’s been a long time coming, it’s a game changer now,” said Louis DeSalvio of Local 872.

“We’re reinventing ourselves,” he added.

Parked across the parking lot from the sign were the union’s firetruck and semi truck wrapped in Raiders logos. Local 872 flags waved in the wind next to the sign as tourists lined up for photos.

Local 872 member Henry Baker said he was excited to put people in Nevada to work. He said the relocation means more tourism for the city.

“Everyone needs another excuse to come to Las Vegas and this is the perfect one,” he said.

WEARING TWO HATS

Bill Hornbuckle, who wears the hats of member of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority and president of MGM Resorts International, welcomed the news and said it is a sign that the community has matured to the level that it can comfortably accommodate top-level entertainment as well as major-league sports. But he also acknowledged that there’s work ahead.

“This has really put Las Vegas on the map,” Hornbuckle said. “Obviously, the community and the industry are well behind this, but we still need to complete the development and lease agreements.”

“It will be essential to have an operating entity in place and I’m pretty confident we’ll work out the details to get the stadium completed.”

Putting on his MGM hat, Hornbuckle said he’s happy that his company, which has more than 42,000 hotel rooms in its Las Vegas inventory, including a large bloc at Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur nearest a proposed stadium site, would benefit from the stadium plan.

“It’s great for the community and it would be great for us,” he said.

Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president of government relations and corporate responsibility for Caesars Entertainment, also wears dual hats.

“I was always a believer,” said Blackhurst, who serves on the Stadium Authority board. “I felt like I knew it was going to happen because I watched how Mark Davis worked with the governor, Steve Hill and the state.”

CREDIT TO ADELSON

Blackhurst also credited Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson for starting the stadium discussion.

Adelson was one of the leading advocates of bringing the Raiders to Las Vegas, but withdrew his personal financial support from the plan. Las Vegas Sands issued a statement on the relocation news.

“As the earliest advocates for the construction of a world-class stadium, which would attract many of the major sporting events and entertainment performances not currently held in Las Vegas, we remain optimistic about the significant economic and tourism benefits the stadium development would provide Southern Nevada,” the emailed statement said.

Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kristin McMillan hailed the news as a victory for the business community.

“Today’s vote by the NFL owners to relocate the Raiders franchise is another great score for Las Vegas,” McMillan said. “This decision expands our status as a major-league city, giving tourists from around the world another compelling reason to visit, our residents an NFL team to support, and UNLV a new stadium for its football program.”

NOT EVERYBODY HAPPY

But not everybody was happy with the news.

Annette Magnus, executive director for Battle Born Progress, said her organization has been opposed to the stadium “scam” from the very beginning.

“I feel like we can use the $750 million in a lot of other ways,” Magnus said. “The argument has been that this is not public money. But in fact, it is. I feel like if we’re going to raise additional money it should go into education, and mental health services — areas that are woefully underfunded.”

Magnus calls herself an avid Broncos fan, and is excited about football, but “not at the expense of kids and others who desperately need services in the state.”

Another critic has been Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, a vocal opponent of using public monies to build an NFL stadium. She said she hopes that the ensuing jobs are given to local union workers.

“It’s an opportunity to make sure that working Nevadans or those waiting for work are taken care of first,” she said.

Giunchigliani added that she hopes some sort of revenue sharing is also incorporated so that the public education system can benefit from the stadium’s earnings.

“Our schools are strapped,” she said.

POLITICOS WEIGH IN

State and local political leaders also weighed in.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, in Las Vegas for a tour of the new Amazon distribution center, issued a statement about the relocation.

“This is a monumental day for Las Vegas and the entire state of Nevada,” Sandoval said. “The Stadium Authority Board will continue its work to finalize the details but the terms of the deal are established into law and no additional taxpayer funds will be expended.”

The Raiders news livened up the Nevada Legislative Building on Monday, as lawmakers tweeted and sent out statements of congratulations in between scrambling to introduce bills before deadlines. Sen. Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, sported a Raiders tie that his colleagues admired.

“I was born and raised here, so to see a professional NFL team come here is amazing,” said Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson, D-North Las Vegas.

Assemblyman John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, said the Raiders’ move to Southern Nevada will be good for labor and jobs.

“To me, it’s a win-win,” he said. “I’m very, very pleased.”

MAYORS GOODMANS’ EFFORTS

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman was ecstatic with the news.

“I’m breathing again,” she said. “I was holding my breath for so long. But now, the devil’s in the details.”

Goodman continues to advocate on behalf of downtown Las Vegas to locate the stadium at Cashman Center, where, she said, there would be minimal infrastructure additions needed.

But for now, she’s just happy to get the Raiders.

“I’m thrilled that this was accomplished and it wouldn’t matter if the stadium is on top of the Black Mountains or Mount Potosi, the important thing is that we have them in Southern Nevada,” she said.

The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.

Review-Journal writers Michael Scott Davidson, Blake Apgar, Elaine Wilson, Sandra Chereb, Ben Botkin, Wade Tyler Millward and Natalie Bruzda contributed to this report.