Las Vegas Raiders stadium expected to be completed by June 2020
Construction of a 65,000-seat domed football stadium is expected to begin in January and be completed by June 2020, giving the Raiders three months to move in before their first NFL regular-season game.
The Las Vegas Stadium Authority’s draft of a preliminary project timeline shows a 30-month construction period after stadium bonds are issued. Site work on 62 acres at Interstate 15 and Russell Road, purchased by the Raiders for $77.5 million on May 1, is targeted by December.
The stadium authority board is expected to discuss the timeline at Thursday’s meeting at 1 p.m. at the Clark County Government Center.
A 30-month construction time frame is ambitious compared with that of other recent stadium projects. Of the last four domed NFL stadiums built, none have been completed within 30 months. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the new home of the Falcons, is about to hit its 36th month of construction and is due to open in August. Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium, new home of the Vikings, took 32 months to complete.
Most of the focus on the draft timeline, posted Monday on the authority’s website, is on actions and approvals that must occur in the next nine months.
Among the key approvals in the early stages of the timeline is Clark County’s High-Impact Project review, which is slated for completion by August.
That review includes intense studies by several county departments regarding transportation, ingress and egress, parking, drainage, utilities, airport impact and the availability of emergency services. Clark County officials are expected to make a presentation at Thursday’s meeting.
Also scheduled for completion by August is a project review by the Nevada Department of Transportation. NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon on Monday told the NDOT Transportation board there are no immediate plans to accelerate existing freeway construction projects because they were already scheduled to coincide with the stadium’s opening date.
The stadium authority also scheduled a special meeting for May 22. Authority officials say that session will address the authority’s 2017-18 fiscal year budget and is routine for government entities.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.
RELATED
Here's a look at the Raiders' new stadium site in Las Vegas — VIDEO
Local sports executives navigate busy Las Vegas sports scene
Raiders close purchase on 62-acre stadium site in Las Vegas
Stadium timeline
Here's what the draft of the preliminary timeline for the Las Vegas Stadium construction:
-By August 2017: Clark County High-Impact Process completed, including approval by the seven-member Clark County Commission. Nevada Department of Transportation project review completed. UNLV Board of Regents approval of the joint-use agreement.
-By September 2017: Stadium Authority certifies that all Senate Bill 1 findings have been met. All project documents are completed and reviewed by the Authority board. Clark County and NDOT development-infrastructure process overview summary with Authority board.
-By October 2017: Final project documents approved by Stadium Authority board.
-By November 2017: Stadium land transferred to the Stadium Authority board. Developers funding provided, as required by Senate Bill 1. Raiders responsible for first $100 million in construction costs.
-By December 2017: Stadium site work begins.
-By January 2018: Stadium bonds are issued. Stadium construction begins.
-By June 2020: Stadium construction completed. Raiders begin moving in to facility.
-By August 2020: NFL opening day for 2020-21 season.
—Las Vegas Stadium Authority
Construction time
Here's how long it took to build the last seven NFL stadiums that have opened:
-*US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis (Vikings), 32 months
-Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California (49ers), 27 months
-MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jets, Giants), 32 months
-*AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (Cowboys), 45 months
-*Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis (Colts), 35 months
-*University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona (Cardinals), 40 months
-Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (Eagles), 27 months
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (Falcons) and Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park (Rams, Chargers) currently are under construction.
* Domed stadiums
