The Raiders Nation might follow the team to Las Vegas, because many LA fans still make the trip to Oakland for every game.
The Oakland Raiders filed relocation paperwork last week, making official their desire to move to Las Vegas. The filing was announced by Steve Sisolak, the chairman of the Clark County Commission. Brian McCarthy, a spokesman for the NFL, confirmed the fact papers were filed.
Ian Rapaport of the NFL Network said that a vote on the Raiders’ move is expected in March. For the Raiders to gain approval to move, they would need 23 of the 31 other NFL teams to vote on their behalf. Last year, the Oakland Raiders failed to gain approval to move to Los Angeles, as the league owners voted to allow the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers to move to L.A., instead.
Las Vegas Stadium Project
The NFL Network reported on January 14 that the Raiders’ owner, Mark Davis, made the decision to move after the city of Oakland signaled it had no interest in keeping the franchise, at least if it meant building a modern football stadium.
Oakland disputes that report, but it is generally assumed the franchise is Las Vegas’s to lose. Las Vegas, led by casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, has shown its willingness to build a $1.7 billion stadium in order to lure an NFL team.
The news was unsurprising to most observers, though the Oakland Raiders’ star quarterback David Carr made news when he expressed confusion about the filing on Twitter.
Derek Carr Wonders about the Filing
Carr tweeted to the “RaidersNation” the questions, “In other news…what does filed papers mean? Does that mean it’s official, or is there still a vote?”
The quarterback can be forgiven for his lack of knowledge, since he has been dealing with a broken fibula suffered late in the NFL regular season. At the time he was injured, the Raiders were 12-2 and appeared ready to secure the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
The Raiders have a young team full of stars such as Carr, Amari Cooper, and Khalil Mack, so Las Vegas would inherit a ready-made contender if the Raiders moved.
Oakland Raiders Football
That wasn’t always the case. From the 1960s through the 1980s, the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders were the winningest franchise in the NFL. Their legendary owner, Al Davis, coined phrases which have become mantras to the Raiders: “Just Win, Baby” and “Commitment to Excellence“.
As Al Davis aged, pro football seemed at times to have passed him by. He built his legend on speed and size, which translated to long passes, a dominant run game, and crushing defense. By the 1990s, the NFL game seemed to have evolved, as the West Coast Offense emphasized short, precision passing and the 3-4 Defense emphasized flexibility, disguised coverages, and surprise blitz schemes.
Davis continued to draft the biggest and fastest players, but many lacked the requisite skills to succeed in the modern NFL. Besides a brief period in the early 2000s when the team was led by Jon Gruden and Rich Gannon, the team floundered.
Under Al’s son, Mark Davis, the team has drafted a variety of young talents. Davis also has added the right combination of veteran free agents, so the 2016 Oakland Raiders appeared ready to make a return to prominence. Derek Carr’s injury ended their amazing run in 2016, but most expect the team to be a contender for the next several seasons.
Oakland Mayor’s Press Release on Oakland Raiders
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff does not appear ready to give-up on the Raiders. Upon hearing the news of the Las Vegas filing, Mayor Schaff released a statement which said, “It’s no surprise that the Raiders have filed for relocation. Oakland welcomes the chance to show them and the NFL’s other owners why Oakland is the only home for the Raiders and always will be.”
The mayor said that their public/private leadership group had made a lot of progress in the last few months in building the financial framework for a new stadium. She listed the various parties to her city’s plan, emphasizing the Lott Group.
Cited the Raiders Nation
Libby Schaff also cited the Bay Area’s advantages when it came to infrastructure, population figures, and fan base. She said, “Oakland’s Raiders stadium will be on the most transit-accessible site in the nation, in the sixth largest television market, and in one of the wealthiest and most innovative regions in the world. But above all else, Oakland has something no other city ever will — a die-hard fan base that is loyal and true to the Raiders and wants to see them stay here in Oakland where they were founded.”
“Only Oakland brings the Raiders and the NFL a competitive stadium proposal, along with legacy and loyalty. I look forward to the League giving our team a chance to compete.”
The mayor’s reference to the Oakland Raiders’ fanbase is significant, though not decisive. The Raiders Nation, the informal name for the team’s fanbase, is a one of the largest in the NFL. Because the franchise has won Super Bowls while in Oakland and Los Angeles, the team has dedicated fans in both cities. Raiders memoribilia was a favorite with West Coast rappers, so a generation of American youth made Raiders apparel their favorite. That apparel continues to have cachet with a wide range of NFL fans, despite long years of on-field mediocrity.
The O.co Coliseum continues to be a destination for some of the NFL’s most dedicated and visually compelling fans. One end of the O.co Coliseum is known as the Black Hole, because it attracts fans wearing a bizarre collection of attire.
