OT: Oakland Raiders will file papers to relocate to Las Vegas

Submitted by wildbackdunesman on

The NFL owners will have to vote approval, but it is in motion.  There use to be a concern of casinos and gambling have an influence over a pro-sports team in Las Vegas, but it seems like any of those potential influences have a reach outside of Las Vegas.

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Shakespeare

January 14th, 2017 at 10:45 AM ^

They would have moved the Raiders to LA last year. The Raiders have such a fervent and dedicated fan base that travels from all over the west coast to wherever they're playing. If they wanted to prove the concept of football in LA they would have taken a team with a following and put them in the largest market to guarantee ticket sales and excitement in a highly competitive market. The Raiders will be successful in Vegas because the Raiders would be successful anywhere they moved on the West Coast. They could move to Palm Springs and you'd still have Southwest flights on Sundays filled with people in Silver and Black. Football in LA will only be successful for one week every season: when the Raiders travel to play the Chargers.

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Go Blue in NC

January 14th, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^

Oakland didn't have the option to move to LA though. They couldn't move to LA unless the Chargers decided to stay in SD and the Chargers had a year to make that decision so Oakland was kinda stuck. I think they will be more successful in Vegas even though Oakland is kinda undergoing a Brooklyn-esque revival in the Bay Area.

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Richard75

January 14th, 2017 at 11:07 AM ^

But that's only because that's how the NFL's owners decided to play it. They voted last year to let the Rams move immediately and to give the Chargers the first option. What the OP is saying is that was unwise.

It certainly was a little shortsighted. At the time, there was opposition to the Raiders moving because it was feared they wouldn't maximize the opportunity. (Translation: The Raiders always suck.) But the younger Davis has since proven otherwise.



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Shakespeare

January 14th, 2017 at 4:52 PM ^

The NFL owners made their pick entirely based on feelings in the moment. As someone said below, Kroenke offered the more "grandiose" stadium plan which put a bit of a spell on everyone in the room. They saw the shiny thing and got distracted and totally forgot to think about the true moneymaker: a successful and sustainable market in Los Angeles. The Raiders are a national brand unlike any team in the NFL other than the Packers, Steelers and Cowboys. The Raiders moving wouldn't have fractured a fan base because the majority of Raider fans don't live in the East Bay. They have a truly regional fanbase dispersed all throughout the state of California. The false notion the owners were operating under was that Los Angeles was desperate for a "home team" which wasn't and isn't the case. The city's makeup is already one of transplants from all over the country who bring with them the allegiances of their hometowns. Los Angeles isn't Charlotte or Houston and my guess is it took a year staring at an empty stadium for the owners to realize that.

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MichiganMAN47

January 14th, 2017 at 10:46 AM ^

I wish the Raiders moved to LA instead of the Chargers, at least there is history there. Wonder which franchise will move next?

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pinkfloyd2000

January 14th, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^

I was disappointed in the Vegas Golden Knights (although that might be Trump's new favorite team now? I know, no politics. Just making an attempt at some humor).

But the Las Vegas Raiders? Eh...

How about...

Craps

Gamblers

Sharks 

House

Santoros

Dice

Cards

Blackjacks 

Wise Guys

Dealers

Head Vice

?

 

 

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chewieblue

January 14th, 2017 at 12:29 PM ^

Love your toungue in cheek crack at the marriage between Vegas and the NFL. Ties to gambling, moving teams from home cities, roids never being mentioned as a major reason there are so many concussions. Man I hate the NFL.



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turtleboy

January 14th, 2017 at 12:33 PM ^

I don't even expect casinos to buy those tickets and give them away as comps, because that would involve them sending patrons out of the building. I honestly expect the raiders stadium in Vegas to be about as full as the Tampa Bay Rays stadium usually is, or the Miami Heat arena where they were actually begging fans to show up for games. This franchise just loves shitting on their die hard fanbase.

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sj

January 14th, 2017 at 1:57 PM ^

I thought the reason pro leagues avoided Vegas was fears it would lead to the players getting caught doing embarassing/illegal things. I would be surprised if they solved this problem. 

 

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CoverZero

January 14th, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^

Vegas is a perfect fit for the Raiders. Outlaw personna.  Vegas has huge travel in and out every week.  That stadium will be filled.  Other teams will enjoy travelling there.

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Coach Nero

January 14th, 2017 at 6:09 PM ^

Raiders will draw in Vegas...
It is a manageable drive from LA and many LA raider fans will make the trip to Vegas for the weekend to watch them. People go from LA to Vegas all the time.
I think the true loser in all this will be the Chargers. They won't draw San Diego fans to LA, the Rams have their fans, and Raider fans in LA will drive to Vegas.
The Chargers will probably end up in San Antonio within 10 years.



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Perkis-Size Me

January 14th, 2017 at 6:50 PM ^

Some people think it's a bad move. I think it's a great move. At least from a financial perspective.

That stadium is going to be PACKED every Sunday. I don't know how many locals will take to the Raiders. Maybe a lot, maybe a few, but whatever team is traveling in that weekend, you'll get a ton of opposing fans (esp when it's NY, Philly, or some big market team) who come in for the game and make three day weekends out of it. Spend Friday and Saturday night at the tables, head to the game on Sunday afternoon/evening, and then take one more round at the tables after the game on Sunday night before heading out Monday morning.

Sucks for Oakland fans, but the NFL generates so much money now that it doesn't need to give two flying fucks about the fans.



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