Thought we needed a new thread for the Raiders that was not on the Conf board. It is a decision that affects UNLV football, not basketball. If basketball fanatics like me can come to the FB, so can others.
Raiders Update Thread
- Thread starter mvvsmith
- Start date
So the paperwork has been submitted. What's next? The meeting in March will keep us on pins and needles for a couple of months, but there is a lot of news on the Raiders between now and then and I'm following every tidbit out there just for s**ts and giggles. Is SA gonna be part of this deall or not? Personally and from what I've been reading some of the owners may not want him involved. Why? Well, some of it seems to be his politics and most of it seems to be his penchant for wanting control, which Davis and the league don't want him to have, his goal is part ownership with a majority stake down the road. There just happens to be a rule forbidding a casino owner from becoming involved in NFL team ownership. Will it sink the deal? It seems to be the sticking point in the negotiations and the reason Davis has Goldman Sachs onboard. So the owners have two choices, if they don't like the SA deal, assuming that Davis and SA can even come to terms, then GS steps in and finances the 650 million. That suits me fine, I'd rather see the naming rights bid out than thought of an Adelson Stadium in Las Vegas! You all have seen the pictures of the proposed Manica designed stadium, but that was the Carson design for LA, not necessarily the design for Vegas. Interesting huh? It would make it easier to keep the same design, personally I like the exteriors we're seeing, but it could end up being different. The income tax story got a lot of ink this past week, I didn't know the total tax paid by staff and players (and owner) living in Cali was 13+%. Wow! None in Vegas, do the math. Ok thats what I've been reading and I 'll keep adding to this thread as things develop. You guys toss some thoughts and info.
While I like the flame in the design I don't think that an "open-air" concept would be good for Las Vegas (for obvious reasons).
Also, the only reason Adelson appeals to me in the financing is because he stated that he would cover any overage. Who will cover that possible expense if he's not involved?
Also, the only reason Adelson appeals to me in the financing is because he stated that he would cover any overage. Who will cover that possible expense if he's not involved?
TBH, if the deal can be done without SA, I'd rather it be done without him. He sees Vegas (and other places) as his personal cash cow, he doesn't care about the places.
You would think if he and his family cared at all about Las Vegas we would have seen some philanthropic endeavors by now, after all I first met him when he owned Comdex, how long ago was that, 20 years or more most likely. I wish MGM would buy the Sun ( and restart paper delivery) just to spite him, although Bryan does a pretty decent job with the online version.
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It's interesting you mention his local philanthropy, or lack thereof. That was the first thing that popped into my head when this deal started to materialize and he was on record for wanting a legacy project re: UNLV. I, too, met him a couple of times during the Comdex years and a more sour personality I cannot name. For someone as spectacularly wealthy, surprisingly little bears his name.
I may not like him, but he does donate to a lot of causes that he likes even if they are not popular with you, me, or others.
Beyond just all of his political donations, he has also donated to the following that I know of which is far more than all of us combined have most likely donated or will donate in our entire lives:
donated over $25 million to the Adelson education campus in Las Vegas to build a high school
donated $25 million to the Yad Vashem Holocause Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority
donated $140 million to Brithright Israel which finances Jewish youth trips to Israel
donated $5 million to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
donated $7.5 million to the Boston-based Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation.
He has also donated $10's of millions to try and defeat legalized marijuana. While many may or may not agree with this, it was what was important to his beliefs
I also know he had provided many other donations. I think the problem people have is that most of the donations are to his religion and Israel which is ignored.
Out of curiosity, how much have other top level billionaires donated in Las Vegas including the following people
Kirk Kerkorian
Steve Wynn
Nancy Walton Laurie
Phillip Ruffin
Elaine Wynn
Frank Fertitta
Lorenzo Fertitta
Beyond just all of his political donations, he has also donated to the following that I know of which is far more than all of us combined have most likely donated or will donate in our entire lives:
donated over $25 million to the Adelson education campus in Las Vegas to build a high school
donated $25 million to the Yad Vashem Holocause Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority
donated $140 million to Brithright Israel which finances Jewish youth trips to Israel
donated $5 million to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
donated $7.5 million to the Boston-based Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation.
He has also donated $10's of millions to try and defeat legalized marijuana. While many may or may not agree with this, it was what was important to his beliefs
I also know he had provided many other donations. I think the problem people have is that most of the donations are to his religion and Israel which is ignored.
Out of curiosity, how much have other top level billionaires donated in Las Vegas including the following people
Kirk Kerkorian
Steve Wynn
Nancy Walton Laurie
Phillip Ruffin
Elaine Wynn
Frank Fertitta
Lorenzo Fertitta
Touche 86. Must be on the payroll somewhere
He spent that much trying to defeat weed lmfao. That's outstanding!!! I'm gonna light up a joint in his honor.
He spent that much trying to defeat weed lmfao. That's outstanding!!! I'm gonna light up a joint in his honor.
Not on his payroll, and if you look at my post you will see I do not like him, but he has donated to many causes in LV. Except for Elaine Wynn, most of the others do not donate much locally. Fertitta's have donated some to BG and to UNLV, but they donate a lot more out of state.
As for the weed thing, he was just following his beliefs.
As for the weed thing, he was just following his beliefs.
Speaking for myself, I feel like Las Vegas gets used a lot. And yeah, that's the way America works, its capitalism at its finest, you reap fertile grounds and make your fortune. So, I mean I get it, I just don't like it so much. I like citizens that own their city. Have ownership in the city. Community pride. All that stuff. And I feel it's something UNLV used to have to an extent but it diluted as we grew so quickly. I feel that sometimes we are like a hotel room - we are rented, used, trashed and then left with a mess.
I'm not saying Vegas is void of community, but I'd like to feel it ten times more than I do. There's not a lot of pride. I know that is more of a small town thing but it exists in many big towns too, especially older places with a lot of generations.
To me, certain people are the face of that and Adelson is one of them. And if it weren't him, it'd just be somebody else. So it's nothing personal on my end. But the city is big money, corporate and coldly impersonal now.
And yeah, you probably know where I'm headed. I think UNLV is a microcosm of all that.... well, they aren't big money but people don't care so much about the uni and the community.
UNLV gets way more support now then they did when I went to school there. There was a time when most of the locally elected officials pushed to send almost all of the money for the university system towards unr. At least now we are far closer to a fair amount.
The nice thing that I have seen lately is that large sums are coming in for the now hotel building, new football training facility, and the new medical school. It is notable that the medical community sees that we need the medical school badly and has been willing to put out the money to assist. It is also helping as UNLV graduates are slowly moving into the upper echelon of management in many of the hotel/casinos.
It was also nice that the Southern Nevada officials mostly stayed together as a group to push through the new stadium. This would have never happened 1-2 decades ago.
But, I do agree that a lot of the big time money in this town seem to put LV and UNLV second class to whatever school they attended or city they grew up in before moving to Las Vegas to make the big money.
The nice thing that I have seen lately is that large sums are coming in for the now hotel building, new football training facility, and the new medical school. It is notable that the medical community sees that we need the medical school badly and has been willing to put out the money to assist. It is also helping as UNLV graduates are slowly moving into the upper echelon of management in many of the hotel/casinos.
It was also nice that the Southern Nevada officials mostly stayed together as a group to push through the new stadium. This would have never happened 1-2 decades ago.
But, I do agree that a lot of the big time money in this town seem to put LV and UNLV second class to whatever school they attended or city they grew up in before moving to Las Vegas to make the big money.
86, I did say Las Vegas. I did't know about the high school, but the others are international. The Greenspun family also gave and gives to some of those causes and donated to UNLV. Hank Greenspun was a nationally recognized supporter of Israel as is SA. Thomas and Mack come to mind. The Fertitta Tennis Complex. Lied Library and the Lied Family in general, the Smith. Tons more. My post should have been gamers in general have not given back to Las Vegas (I don't include locals like the Boyd's or Fertitta's) and consider the profits over the years that's shameful. Yes, corporations are involved beholden to stockholders, but the private fortunes are immense. Like Joe stated above the town has been used, especially by the Strip concerns.
First comments from Goodell since the filing:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports...ompromises-if-raiders-las-vegas-move-approved
http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports...ompromises-if-raiders-las-vegas-move-approved
So much is coming out today about the lease. According to Tyler Bischoff :The Raiders will pay $1 annual rent. Their lease says Stadium Authority must get the Raiders consent to let UNLV play in the stadium.Although, the bill the NV legislature passed says the Raiders can't control UNLV's scheduling. It also says UNLV loses its awesome field design as the Raiders say their field design can not be changed. Raiders aren't as UNLV friendly as we thought they were gonna be.
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This is starting feel like UNLV is going to end up on the short end of this stick.
If the Raiders don't want to work with the Rebels I don't want them. Stadium or not.
Raiders want the naming rights revenue and revenue from any commercial signage on the property. The Stadium Authority is studying the document. The way it sounds the lease proposal will a compromise, don't think that document is set in stone. Correct me if I'm wrong. Nothing is signed yet. But time is running short if the deal is to be presented to the NFL in March. Hope we see some pushback by the Authority.
From Silver and Black Pride:
http://www.silverandblackpride.com/...-naming-rights-one-dollar-rent-preferred-site
http://www.silverandblackpride.com/...-naming-rights-one-dollar-rent-preferred-site
RJ, notice lack of detail:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/busine...tadium-lease-proposal-focus-russell-road-site
http://www.reviewjournal.com/busine...tadium-lease-proposal-focus-russell-road-site
Just change our name for the football team to the Raider Rebels and add black to our colors. Then the signage on the field really won't matter. Hey Reb can wear a skull mask. Mark Davis would love it and it will blow the recruits away. The rest will get worked out. Yes, I really am serious about this. It's not as though we are USC with over a 100 year tradition of excellence. Time to take advantage of opportunities and move up.
I think playing on a field that is permanently branded the Raiders is weak. It definitely makes us look like a huge afterthought. Even though this is true, it is a bad look.
We need to at least get one end zone to say "Rebels" on it, as long as the other side says Las Vegas (plays into the new branding of the football team). We also need a Hey Reb or a UNLV logo at mid field. We can keep the colors Silver and Black, that is not a stretch. Not having the Vegas diamonds on the yard markers not a big deal.
But playing on a field that's permanently branded "Raiders" looks Busch league.
We need to at least get one end zone to say "Rebels" on it, as long as the other side says Las Vegas (plays into the new branding of the football team). We also need a Hey Reb or a UNLV logo at mid field. We can keep the colors Silver and Black, that is not a stretch. Not having the Vegas diamonds on the yard markers not a big deal.
But playing on a field that's permanently branded "Raiders" looks Busch league.
Agree that it's Busch league. But UNLV is only bringing generic brand pretzels to the big bash.
Plus the precedent has been set. There are multiple examples of shared stadiums that don't have issue changing the field design. Bowl games. College/Pro on the same weekend. NY teams sharing the same field etc.
We are an afterthought, but this hurts our image and pride of the program. I'd almost rather stay at SBS...
We are an afterthought, but this hurts our image and pride of the program. I'd almost rather stay at SBS...
I get that part of it. In the end, I don't think beggars can be choosers. It's part of the reason why I posed whether the Raiders is a good thing. It's a good thing for Las Vegas, for sure. It may be a good thing or a bad thing for UNLV, though. But something HAD to happen. Stagnate much longer and all is lost, IMO.
If the Raider deal fell through and UNLV had access to the money that was proposed if the Raider deal fell through, that may have been the best scenario for UNLV. But then you have UNLV in control of things and the stadium would be much smaller scale (which isn't a killer)... I don't know about you - UNLV controlling their own destiny is a crapshoot.
School officials would love it, gets rid of the " Rebel" stigma. They keep putting the pressure on to change the mascot. "Runnin Raiders" for basketball? I don"t know. We are one of the only schools to have different names for our men's BB and FB teams. Make nice uniforms though, I agree on that. This will be a great discussion Sam
Better explanation of the proposal, it is a starting point only:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/raider...theyre-asking-for-a-sweet-deal-151754058.html
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/raider...theyre-asking-for-a-sweet-deal-151754058.html
Exactly- my guess is that the Raiders will have to compromise on some if not all of these points, particularly, the name rights revenue. I also think the playing surface is a non starter. It's freaking turf. Change it.
I take it the County will be doing the upkeep on the Stadium. He can pick concessionares, he HAS got to be better at it than what we have at the T&M and SBS. The 750 million will be about 1/3 of the final cost IMHO with GS or SA. I would love it if SA were out of the picture, eases the NFL worries and the revenue split. I have to say though, as much as I dislike him he needs some recognition for his contribution. Hell, let him buy the naming rights or something. If he is out of the deal, the promotion of the venue is out of his hands and falls to the LVSA. I don't know if it would have been in his hands, but if it had, the events and conventions would have paid more money for rent, meaning higher ticket and concession prices. Personally, from what I've been reading it sounds like he is resigned to being out of the deal and won't stop it, but needs to have some sort of legacy.
So back to revenue. The cost of upkeep (cleaning, maintenence, ushers, private security, police etc.) during the football season needs to be offset by some sort of revenue sharing on a 30 year lease these costs will increase every year and cannot be projected easily, the County has to be covered. Leasing or some kind of revenue sharing has to take place, unless the LVSA figures the revenue from events and conventions offsets the upkeep. LV is in a unique situation to make a ton of money off of the facility, no other city is in this kind of position. If they can project potenial revenue accurately, they maybe more willing to give up more than most cities would IMHO. Naming rights he can have IMO for having the balls to see this through.
So back to revenue. The cost of upkeep (cleaning, maintenence, ushers, private security, police etc.) during the football season needs to be offset by some sort of revenue sharing on a 30 year lease these costs will increase every year and cannot be projected easily, the County has to be covered. Leasing or some kind of revenue sharing has to take place, unless the LVSA figures the revenue from events and conventions offsets the upkeep. LV is in a unique situation to make a ton of money off of the facility, no other city is in this kind of position. If they can project potenial revenue accurately, they maybe more willing to give up more than most cities would IMHO. Naming rights he can have IMO for having the balls to see this through.
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I wonder if the Stadium Authority or the County becomes the employer? Anyone know for sure? If SA isn't in the final deal, could the LVCC have a bigger say in events and conventions. Hunders of ? in my head right now. Oh well. We'll see.
I know this is a bit superficial.
But us playing on a surface (on TV) with no indication of UNLV on our home field looks really, really bad. Playing in that scenario could hurt us more than it helps us. It looks like we can't afford to have our own place, or that we are a start up program that is playing its first year of football.
Like I said, fields are shared all of the time. Many NFL stadiums host college games for preseason or post season games and have no trouble changing the field design.
How are we supposed to look "big time" and primed for the PAC 12 if we can't even get our logo on the field for the home games?
And changing our logo and mascot would be even more submissive. In fact, the Raiders probably wouldn't like it much since it could cause confusion with some of our games.
But us playing on a surface (on TV) with no indication of UNLV on our home field looks really, really bad. Playing in that scenario could hurt us more than it helps us. It looks like we can't afford to have our own place, or that we are a start up program that is playing its first year of football.
Like I said, fields are shared all of the time. Many NFL stadiums host college games for preseason or post season games and have no trouble changing the field design.
How are we supposed to look "big time" and primed for the PAC 12 if we can't even get our logo on the field for the home games?
And changing our logo and mascot would be even more submissive. In fact, the Raiders probably wouldn't like it much since it could cause confusion with some of our games.
This is a starting point D, I'm sure (maybe?) the community leaders on the Board will take care of things, I have met more than a couple over the years, there's some staunch UNLV fans in that group
This was just a Raiders proposal. UNLV has one too.
I will go out on a limb and say that UNLV will play on a field with it's logo and colors.
I will go out on a limb and say that UNLV will play on a field with it's logo and colors.
I'll trust the info in the post right below yours on this one.
I hope you are right. People here seem to think UNLV should be grateful to the Raiders for including them in THEIR deal. What some seem to forget is that this was UNLV's deal and Addy brought in the Raiders to partner with them to build a stadium on the Trop 42 property. Then, all of a sudden, the Raiders were looking at different sites & partners & UNLV got squeezed out. I have never liked this deal since I don't see Las Vegas getting a ROI on their money, but I was ok with it as long as UNLV got a fair deal & a new stadium to call home. I am still kinda hoping the Raiders stay in CA and UNLV claims the $550 mil and builds their own on campus stadium like was the original plan before Davis & Addy hijacked it.
It doesn't seem to concern Georgia Tech or the SEC when they play in the permanently branded Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome. If you've been there for a GT game or the SEC championship, you know full well that it's the home of the Atlanta Falcons but it doesn't seem to hurt attendance. It doesn't take a lot to covert the stadium into your own appearance wise and the Raiders are only requiring that those temporary changes be pre-approved by them. Same thing happens around the country at other NFL stadiums like the Indianapolis Colts Dome when the Big Ten Championship Game is played there every year.
