Raiders’ Las Vegas home to be named Allegiant Stadium

The Oakland Raiders announced on Monday that Allegiant Stadium will be the name of their Las Vegas home when the team relocates in 2020.

The announcement was made during a topping out ceremony at the stadium’s construction site in Paradise, Nev., with the Raiders marking the completion of the $1.9 billion, 65,000-seat venue.

“We’re thrilled that our future home will be known as Allegiant Stadium,” Raiders President Marc Badain said. “As the hometown airline, Allegiant is the perfect partner to showcase the incredible support we continue to receive from the southern Nevada community. We are grateful to all involved who worked diligently to make Allegiant Stadium a reality.”

Allegiant had been speculated as the sponsor for the stadium since May when the travel company sought a trademark on “Allegiant Stadium.”

The new venue will also be home to the UNLV football team and serve as the site of the Las Vegas Bowl beginning next year, in addition to hosting the 2020 and 2021 Pac-12 championship games.

Raiders add new suites to Vegas stadium in attempt to land 2025 Super Bowl

The price tag on the Raiders’ $1.8-billion Las Vegas stadium has gone up $40 million to accommodate the addition of 20 new suites, Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

The team increased the number of suites from 108 to 128 to improve its chances of landing the 2025 Super Bowl.

“The more suites you have, the better opportunity you have to bid for the Super Bowl,” Raiders president Marc Badain said. “So we wanted to be responsive to the NFL, as we’re working on a bid for the 2025 Super Bowl.”

The Raiders will foot the bill for the added suites. The stadium is still anticipated to sit 65,000.

Raiders strike deal to play 2019 season in Oakland

The Oakland Raiders reached an agreement to play the 2019 season at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, pending approval of the board that oversees the stadium, sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The deal includes a team option that will allow the Raiders to stay in Oakland for the 2020 season if their stadium in Las Vegas isn’t ready, sources told Rapoport. It also increases the likelihood that free-agent running back Marshawn Lynch returns to play another season for his hometown club, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports.

The Raiders spent days negotiating a new lease with the venue’s officials. The previous one expired 10 days ago, briefly leaving the franchise homeless. The Raiders looked into the possibility of playing in San Francisco or Santa Clara in the event they were unable to strike a deal with the coliseum.

The new lease could be finalized by Wednesday and presented to the board for a vote as early as Friday, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

UFC 232 moving from Vegas to L.A. after abnormality in Jon Jones drug test

UFC 232 headliner Jon Jones isn’t sanctioned to fight in Las Vegas next weekend after a drug testing abnormality, according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. Therefore, the promotion will move the card to Los Angeles.

A test Jones took earlier this month revealed a residual amount of turinabol, the substance that led to his most recent suspension from the sport in 2017. The Nevada State Athletic Commission won’t have adequate time to investigate the matter, UFC president Dana White told MMA Junkie’s Matt Erickson and John Morgan. However, the California State Athletic Commission will approve a license for Jones to meet Alexander Gustafsson for the light heavyweight title on Dec. 29.

Jones will be allowed to withdraw his fight license application in Nevada in order to fight in California, according to Erickson and Morgan. In an appearance on “SportsCenter”, White said the fight needs to proceed without further delay, according to Okamoto.

“Today, Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) executive director Bob Bennett announced that, in consultation with NSAC commission chair Anthony Marnell III, unarmed combatant Jon Jones will be allowed to withdraw his pending application for licensure, which was intended to clear him to fight in a major contest in Nevada later this month,” read a statement from the NSAC, obtained by Erickson and Morgan.

“After extensive analysis of Mr. Jones’ prior 18 months of USADA in- and out-of-competition anti-doping drug testing results, Director Bennett, Chair Marnell, and Mr. Jones agree that he will appear at an evidentiary hearing in January. This will allow for a measured, thoughtful, and comprehensive discussion of his anti-doping testing protocol and results and provide an opportunity for the NSAC to determine the appropriate path forward for him in Nevada. We look forward to this hearing.”

UFC’s vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky said Jones isn’t currently in violation of USADA’s drug-testing program.

“There’s been no violation of the anti-doping program. He’s been cleared to fight in terms of the USADA program,” Novitzky said.

Suns owner assures fans the team isn’t moving

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver has responded to reports claiming he threatened to move the franchise to Seattle or Las Vegas if the city votes against spending $150 million on renovating Talking Stick Resort Arena.

“First and foremost, the Phoenix Suns aren’t leaving Phoenix,” Sarver said in a video to fans. “I’m 100 percent committed and have been for the last four years to find a solution to keep them in downtown Phoenix where they belong.

“I’m a strong proponent, as evidenced by the term sheet that I signed last week, that we should renovate the Talking Stick Resort Arena and once again restore it to a world-class facility. In addition, it is important for the Phoenix Suns to build a first-class practice facility, so the players of the Suns and the Phoenix Mercury can continue to develop.

“I am 100 percent all-in in keeping this team right here where we stand and I want to make sure that message comes across crystal clear to every one of you.”

It’s clear that the Sarver is not on the same page as the city, referencing his readiness to renovate 26-year-old arena.

Sarver and the Suns have proposed paying upwards of $80 million toward renovations, maintenance, and a new practice facility.

Goodell unsure of where Raiders will play in 2019

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that no decision has been made on where the Oakland Raiders will play home games next season, according to The MMQB’s Albert Breer.

The Raiders have an expiring lease at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, and the city has been reluctant to extend the deal for a team preparing to bolt. The franchise is set for a move to Las Vegas in 2020, but its under-construction stadium won’t be ready to house the team before then.

Among the sensible possibilities for the Raiders if they’re forced to leave Oakland a year early would be to play in nearby Levi’s Stadium, which hosts the San Francisco 49ers. Alternatively, some have postulated the Raiders could play the 2019 campaign in San Diego at the Chargers‘ old San Diego County Credit Union Stadium.

A one-year stay in Mexico City, where the Raiders played two games between 2016 and 2017, may also be under consideration, though that scenario appears to be a long shot.

Former UFC Title Challenger Nick Diaz Arrested In Las Vegas

Former UFC title challenger Nick Diaz has been arrested in Las Vegas on multiple charges of domestic violence. Diaz, 34 years old, was charged by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department on charges of domestic battery by strangulation and first-degree domestic battery, according to MMA Fighting.

Diaz, who has not fought inside the Octagon since 2015, recently served a suspension for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy. However, he was cleared to return to action last month.

The fighter is currently behind held inside the Clark County Detention Center on a total of $18,000 bail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Saturday morning.

According to multiple reports, police were dispatched to a residence Thursday night and had probable cause to make an arrest, Las Vegas Metro Police spokesperson Larry Hadfield said.

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O.J. Simpson threatens to sue Cosmopolitan for $100M after hotel ban

Former NFL running back O.J. Simpson could be filing a massive lawsuit against the Cosmopolitan after being permanently banned by the Las Vegas hotel-casino in November.

TMZ Sports reported that Simpson was was drunk and became hostile toward staff at the hotel’s Clique bar, leading to him getting kicked out and banned by the Cosmopolitan. However, Simpson claimed “nothing happened.”

Representatives for Simpson are now threatening to sue the Cosmopolitan for $100 million, claiming staff “acted with malice and racial prejudice,” according to Joe Nelson of FOX 5.

In a letter to the Cosmopolitan, Simpson’s lawyer, Malcolm P. LaVergne, said his client was “singled out amongst his non-African American friends and expelled him for a fake reason while he peacefully visited the Cosmopolitan property.” The letter also states that staff neglected to reverse Simpson’s ban after it was confirmed by police through surveillance video that they made up a “false narrative.”

LaVergne claims Cosmopolitan staff wanted to put Simpson in a false light to affect the terms of his parole.

Raiders get OK for Las Vegas stadium construction permits

LAS VEGAS (AP) The Oakland Raiders are one step closer to being able to start building their proposed stadium in Las Vegas.

Local officials on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a series of permits required for the proposed 65,000-seat stadium.

Officials in Nevada’s Clark County gave the team a year to figure out a solution for parking, which has been a major concern. Per county regulations, the stadium is required to have 16,250 parking spots, but the site selected for the project near the Las Vegas Strip has only about 2,400.

Raiders adviser Don Webb told Clark County commissioners the team is exploring a wide variety of parking options.

The Raiders want to play in Las Vegas starting in 2020. Their ambitious construction timeline for the partly tax-funded $1.9 billion project calls for some site work to begin by December.

Report: Raiders’ relocation fee set at $378M, L.A. teams to pay $645M

According to the NFL, it’s much cheaper to move to Las Vegas than to Los Angeles.

The Rams and Chargers, who will both be playing in L.A., will pay $645 million between December 2019 and December 2028, while the Raiders will pay $378 million over 10 years to relocate to Las Vegas, sources told ESPN’s Darren Rovell.

The 29 NFL teams who are not or have not relocated to Los Angeles or Las Vegas are taking home a hefty profit from those who are.

Each team will receive a sum of $55.2 million over an 11-year period stemming from the relocation fees paid by the Rams, Chargers, and Raiders.

The Green Bay Packers released their projected net sum from the relocation fees as $27.1 million, accounting for present value of money over time and taxes, at a recent shareholders meeting.