NFL Stadium Deal Approved By Nevada State Assembly

On Tuesday evening, the Nevada Senate approved a bill that would raise taxes to help pay for an NFL stadium. SB1 went to the state Assembly, which passed it with a 28-13 vote this afternoon. The Senate then approved a version of the bill with a few amendments added. When Nevada governor Brian Sandoval approves the bill on Monday, it will formally pass.

There was reportedly more uncertainty about the Assembly’s willingness to pass the bill than there was about the Senate’s, and they barely cleared the required two-thirds majority. SB1 will also raise $400 million for convention center improvements in addition to $750 million for the stadium itself. Once Sandoval signs off, the NFL owners will debate relocating the Raiders at the NFL’s fall meeting, which will be next week in Houston.

The Raiders released a short statement on behalf of their owner:

“I would like to thank Governor Sandoval, the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee, and the members of the Nevada Legislature on this historic day, “ said Raiders owner Mark Davis. “All parties have worked extremely hard to develop and approve this tremendous stadium project that will serve as a proud new home for the entire Raider Nation.”

In related news, Nevada’s education system was recently ranked as the worst in the nation by Quality Counts.