The Popcorn Stand: Still a bit chilly from The Autumn Wind

So the Autumn Wind has moved one step closer to coming to Las Vegas. It’s appropriate the special session to approve the Raiders $1.9 billion stadium in Vegas happened here in Carson City this week.

So the Oakland-Los Angeles-Carson-Ingelwood-Irwindale-San Antonio Raiders are now set to become the Las Vegas Raiders. And as I’ve written before I don’t know all the ins and outs on how all the financing works.

But a sentence I read in Friday’s article in the Appeal really bothered me: “Clark County will be on the hook for any shortfall.” NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Whatever shortfall there is, THE RAIDERS should be on the hook. Or at least Sheldon Adelson. And I don’t know all of the specifics on how the entire legislative process works, but I would like someone to explain to me why there isn’t some kind of you break it, you bought it language. In other words if the Raiders decide to leave Vegas (my fear is it will be more like when) before the stadium’s paid off, the Raiders or Adelson or somebody — but not the Nevada taxpayers — pay off the stadium. You know, the Just Pay, Baby clause.

This $750 million stimulus package — call it whatever you want but it’s a stimulus package — is a vote of confidence the Raiders are coming — and planning on staying — in Vegas.

Of course, this still isn’t a done deal. Twenty-four out of 32 NFL owners need to approve and my inside sources tell me (that’s journalistspeak for I read what everybody else reads), I can tell you it’s either a slam dunk the owners will approve the deal or there’s no way the owners will approve the deal. How’s that for narrowing it down.

Just wait, baby.

— Charles Whisnand