The Oakland Raiders franchise was born in the 1960 season for the American Football League. Aside from a stint in Los Angeles from 1982-1994, Oakland has been the home of the Raiders franchise for over 20 seasons. During their time in Oakland, they have won two Super Bowls there, numerous iconic moments in NFL history have occurred there, and they host one of the most infamous fan sections in sports, The Black Hole.
Over the past few years, there has been discussion about the Raiders relocating to Las Vegas in hopes of getting a new stadium. While owner Mark Davis has said he would like to keep the team in Oakland, no real progress has been made until recently for a new stadium.
I’ve been to the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum numerous times to watch Oakland play and they are long overdue for a new stadium. Compared to other NFL stadiums I have been to, it is outdated and the Raiders are in need of an upgrade.
There is reason to understand why the city of Oakland has not done much in terms of plans for a new stadium. To start, the team has been bad for most of the millennium. Before this year, the Raiders have not had a single winning season in over 15 years. With the Raiders being so bad, why would the city of Oakland want to sink more money into the unsuccessful sports franchise?
I’ve been a Raiders fan my entire life and I personally think that they need to stay in Oakland. Taking my personal opinion out of the equation, moving the Raiders to Las Vegas would be a bad decision for the franchise.
To start off, the fans want the team to stay in Oakland. I was at the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons this year, and as I walked into the Coliseum, chants of “F**K Las Vegas” could be heard throughout the pool of fans. I honestly can’t see how Mark Davis, could do something the majority of his fans are against.
Looking at the plus side of Las Vegas, it does have advantages that Oakland does not. Right now there has been good progress made in terms of a deal between Davis and the state of Nevada for a Las Vegas stadium.
Las Vegas also provides the Raiders a larger and better media market. With the larger market, there is a greater opportunity to generate revenue for the Franchise. It also gives the Oakland a chance at a fresh start. Like I said before Oakland has been bad for the better part of the 2000’s and for them leaving seemed like the best idea.
While Las Vegas offers all of those things, a move there would hurt the football aspect of the franchise. A brand new stadium in a city like Vegas would begin to give the Raiders more of a corporate feel. The city itself could also be a distraction for the players.
Despite all of the great things that Vegas has to offer the Raiders, leaving Oakland would be a mistake. Oakland now has the ability to give Davis and the Raiders what they want, a brand new stadium. The city of Oakland and the Ronnie Lott led group have agreed to terms on the framework of a stadium deal.
Along with the stadium, Oakland offers advantages that Las Vegas could never offer.
The fans that pour into the Oakland Alameda County Colosseum would no longer be at the home games. There would be no more Black Hole, fans dressing up in costume, and fan favorites such as the Gorilla Rilla, would be gone from the home games. The energy from the crowd in Las Vegas would never compare the energy in Oakland.
The Raiders have one of the most loyal fan bases in the NFL, but Oakland is where the heart is. Not only have they been on Oakland for the past 20 season, head coach Jack Del Rio is from the area, and the connection between the franchise and the local community is incredible.
This team provides its fan with a chance to escape their realities. Every home game thousands of fans tailgate and come together, dressed in costumes like it is Halloween for one thing, to watch their beloved Oakland Raiders get the win. The loyalty the fans in Oakland have to this team is more impressive than and Alabama or Ohio State fan has to their school.
With the recent success of the team, there is more reason now than ever to stay in Oakland. They have had their first winning season since 2002, and have made the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay.
Going to an Oakland Raiders home game is an experience that every football fans needs to go through one time in their life. The Black Hole is more electric than the student section inside of Beaver Stadium. Even NBA stars like Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry were amazed by the atmosphere when they went to the game against the Carolina Panthers a couple months ago.
The feel of this city is defined by this franchise and its history, tough, rugged and unorthodox much like each and every player that has worn the Silver and Black.
Go to downtown Oakland the weekend of a home game and you will see how much this team means to the city. Every Hotel in a 10 mile radius of the stadium is sold out and packed with Raiders fans across the globe.
On the Sunday morning of a home game, the Denny’s located just by the stadium is a sea of Silver of Black. The waiters, waitresses, the hostess, chefs and every person having a meal are covered head to toe in their silver and black Oakland Raiders gear.
Taking the Raiders out of Oakland would be like moving the Lakers out of LA, the Celtics out of Boston, or the Knicks out of Madison Square Garden.
The Oakland Raiders are not just a football team to the city of Oakland.
