Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders file 'Las Vegas Raiders' trademark applications

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:26 p.m. ET

Pete Blackburn

Rumors of a potential Raiders relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas seems to have picked up some steam this week thanks to recent trademark applications filed by the team. According to Forbes, the franchise filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the intent on using the mark "Las Vegas Raiders" in the future.

That doesn't necessarily mean the Raiders moving to Las Vegas is an inevitable conclusion at this point, but it indicates that the team is at least exploring the possibility seriously and setting the wheels in motion. Earlier this year, Raiders owner Mark Davis met with Sheldon Adelson, owner of the Las Vegas Sands casino group, which controls the Palazzo and Venetian hotels. Adelson reportedly wants to spend $1 billion building a 65,000-seat, domed stadium that would be shared between UNLV and an NFL team.

Roger Goodell said in May that any talk of a Raiders move to Vegas was "very premature," as there is no official proposal on the table. But it's been well-documented that the Raiders organization has grown increasingly frustrated while trying work out a new stadium deal in Oakland, and Davis has continued to express very strong interest in moving the team to Sin City.

"I've given my commitment to Las Vegas and if they can come through with what they're talking about doing, then we'll go to Las Vegas," said Davis back in May.

Nevada senator Harry Reid recently declared his support for the new stadium as well as the acquisition of the Raiders. If the city can pull it off, the Raiders would become Vegas' second major professional sports team, as they officially secured an NHL expansion team earlier this year.