LAS VEGAS RAIDERS SEEK $75M PUBLIC FUNDING FOR STADIUM UPGRADE

The Las Vegas Raiders have requested $75 million in public funding towards a $158 million project to improve Allegiant Stadium, six years after the venue opened. The Raiders are prepared to contribute $83 million themselves towards the North Plaza Project, which would overhaul the stadium's north entrance and create an elevated pedestrian connection from the Hacienda Avenue bridge ahead of Super Bowl LXIII in 2029. The project has been developed in partnership with Waymo, according to reports. More than 20,000 people use the Hacienda Avenue bridge to travel between the Strip and the stadium during Raiders games and major events.

The $75 million in public funding would come from surplus hotel-room tax revenue held in the Las Vegas Stadium Authority's Waterfall Residual Fund, rather than from a new tax on residents. This fund was created as part of the original financing structure for Allegiant Stadium and contains money remaining after required financing obligations have been met. The stadium itself cost approximately $2 billion when it opened and the Raiders organisation is currently valued at roughly $11 billion, according to reports. The proposal has drawn scrutiny regarding why public funds should support improvements to a privately owned franchise with such substantial valuation.

The North Plaza Project aims to make reaching the stadium more straightforward for attendees, with potential VIP upgrades available for selected visitors. The Raiders and the Stadium Authority have not yet confirmed whether the project will proceed or when a decision will be made.