Las Vegas Sands wants stadium for UNLV, possibly Raiders

LAS VEGAS (AP) – The billionaire owner of the Las Vegas Sands casino company wants to help build a professional-grade stadium at the UNLV campus and is meeting with the owner of the Oakland Raiders.

Sands spokesman Ron Reese said Thursday that the company envisions a public-private partnership to build a $1 billion domed stadium that could be shared by a professional team as well as UNLV.

Sands owner Sheldon Adelson scheduled a Friday meeting with Raiders owner Mark Davis, although Reese didn’t elaborate on the nature of their discussions.

Nevada political journalist Jon Ralston first reported the development.

UNLV recently purchased 42 acres near the urban campus and close to the Las Vegas Strip. The school has long discussed building a stadium closer to campus. The current one is seven miles away.