FAA Reviewing Las Vegas Raiders Stadium Plan, Height Key Issue

Posted on: June 22, 2017, 11:00h. 

Last updated on: June 22, 2017, 08:26h.

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Expertise: Commercial Gaming.

The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has received a request from the Las Vegas Raiders asking the agency to review construction plans for its 65,000-seat domed NFL football stadium.

The $1.9 billion project is set to be built on a 62-acre plot of land between Russell Road and Hacienda Avenue just west of I-15.

FAA Las Vegas Raiders stadium
The FAA is determining if the proposed height of the Las Vegas Raiders stadium will impede air traffic, but the project’s rendering shows it will be considerably shorter than many resorts located on the nearby Strip. (Image: MANICA Architecture)

The FAA reviews any building that plans to exceed 150 feet in height. The federal administration cannot block construction projects, but simply makes recommendations on any potential impact on aircraft.

However, a Clark County ordinance mandates that a construction project cannot be approved if the FAA believes the potential structure could negatively affect airspace.

“We need an FAA determination of ‘no hazard’ in order for this proposal to be approved,” Clark County Public Information Officer Dan Kulin told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Stadium Grounded Temporarily

The Raiders are hoping the FAA review is a swift process, but that isn’t always the case. The Review-Journal points out that it took more than a year for the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles International to find a solution to radar concerns on its stadium in Inglewood.

Funded through $750 million in public dollars from hotel occupancy taxes generated in Clark County, Las Vegas and team officials are hoping to begin construction before the end of the year. Nevada is already directing funds to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority.

While the site is within walking distance of McCarran International Airport, it seemingly presents far fewer problems than another location that was being considered on Tropicana Avenue and Koval Lane. The Russell Road setting is west of the interstate, and is behind Mandalay Bay, a 43-story resort that soars 480 feet.

Regardless, an NFL stadium located less than a mile from the nation’s eighth-busiest airport certainly requires a careful examination from the FAA. The loud noise, bright lights, and increase in pedestrian and automobile traffic could all impact arriving aircraft descending on the Mojave Desert.

Raiders Odds

The Raiders aren’t expected to formally relocate to Las Vegas until 2020, but their prospects for the upcoming season keep getting better.

Derek Carr, the superstar quarterback that led the team to a 12-4 regular season record and Oakland’s first playoff appearance in 14 years, signed a five-year contract extension this week. The deal is worth $125 million, making Carr the highest-paid player in NFL history.

In Las Vegas, bettors are flocking to take the Silver and Black. The Westgate SuperBook reports that it has taken more futures action on the Raiders in terms of total tickets and actual dollars than any other team. The sportsbook has the Raiders’ overall season win total at 9.5 games, apparently an enticing line to many considering they won 12 games a year ago.

“We have taken large bets from the public on the Raiders over 9.5,” Westgate SuperBook manager Jeff Sherman told ESPN. The oddsmaker said he expected the activity, and remains confident in the numbers he posted on the Raiders.