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New Raiders stadium will not pose flight risk, says FAA

The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ruled that the proposed new NFL stadium in Las Vegas would not pose a risk for aircraft.

The new state-of-the-art venue is scheduled to open in 2020 and will serve as the home of the Oakland Raiders.

The stadium is due to have a height of 225ft, which could have presented a hazard for low-flying aircraft in the area. The FAA has ruled, however, that no such risk would exist.

The Associated Press news agency reported that the FAA’s decision now leaves Nevada Clark County officials free to consider approving construction permits later today (Wednesday).

The FAA requested public opinion on the matter last month and made its decision following a three-week comment period.

The new stadium is set to cost $1.9bn (£1.46bn/€1.59bn), which will be paid in part by the Raiders. A large chunk of the remaining money is set to come from increases in hotel room taxes in Clark County.

In May, the Raiders paid $77.5m for a 62-acre plot of land on which to build the stadium. The land is located west of the Mandalay Bay resort, close to the Las Vegas Strip.

The Raiders will continue playing home games in Oakland for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and possibly the 2019 campaign, before moving to Vegas.