Mark Cuban: NFL should demand multibillion-dollar expansion fee for Las Vegas team

NBA owner Mark Cuban says the NFL should put a very expensive price tag on the right to place a franchise in Las Vegas.

The Oakland Raiders are flirting with the idea of moving to Sin City, but Cuban suggests another possible course of action is adding a new team - but only for the right price.

"Only if it's a multibillion-dollar franchise fee," Cuban told Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman.

The NFL last added a franchise in 1999, when Bob McNair paid $700 million for the Houston Texans (who began play in 2002).

Earlier this year, Rams owner Stan Kroenke agreed to pay a reported $550-million fee to relocate his team to Los Angeles.

So, how did Cuban calculate the multibillion-dollar fee he proposed?

"When you add a team, you have to give them their share of profits," Cuban explained. "So, teams would split things by 33, not 32. The franchise fee has to be enough to more than pay for the share of revenue teams are giving up. It's the same reason I voted against expanding in the NBA.

"The question isn't whether it's worth it for the new owner. It's whether it's worth it to the NFL owners."

For many reasons, including those Cuban raises, the NFL adding an expansion team is highly unlikely. But if the league plans to put a team (or a few teams) overseas within the next decade, expanding within the U.S. border to maintain an even number of teams could potentially be on the table.

And if it is, and the Raiders haven't packed up and headed to Las Vegas, the city will likely be at the top of the list.