RIP Vegas, Raider Nation looks to be coming to town

signbabybrady said:

Sux to see cities lose teams. But I'd be lying if I said I'm not excited about a road trip to Vegas. Legal prostitution and football is one hell of a combo.

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You probably aren't the only one who's excited about it...

Joey007 said:

Well, if any of the three moving franchises keeps its fan base, it'll be the Raiders. They've been through this before when Al moved them to LA, and currently look like they have a strong future ahead of them with their current team.

Still, the cities of Oakland and San Diego deserve teams, and they may never have teams again. Not Vegas, and LA sure as Hell doesn't need two.

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Nevada will welcome with open arms. There only pro team!

Gwedd said:

Laughable is getting dissed by an adolescent poster. No reason that already existing lines between Oakland, LA and Vegas can't be used. Folks could fly as well. But you know, these are just ideas. Pity you don't have the mental wherewithal to understand that and choose to toss insults rather than contribute positively to the discussion.

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The reason your post is laughable is because it lacks any effort, thought or research. Use the existing lines? It's about 20 hours of travel on the existing lines. One way!

Gwedd said:

A smart business man (or woman) would buy into the Raiders move and build a "Raider Nation" theme park, complete with a hotel and casino, right alongside the stadium, similar to Gillette.

It's gonna be close enough for fans to come and stay the weekend to watch the games, and if Amtrak was smart, they'd run a "Raiders" themed train each weekend from Cali to LV.

That franchise, if done right, could not only turn into a quality product, but give New England, Dallas and Green Bay a run for their money as one of the richest teams in the league.

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It's your idea. Go do it! I will be right there to buddy up and ask to borrow money

That was a beautiful defensive play by Ryan.

RayClay said:

There was no billionaire ready to start a Football team in a City where past teams failed, where it was near impossible to get a stadium built. As hideous as Schaefer Stadium was, if that hadn't been pushed through, we probably wouldn't have a team either.

Sullivan was an Irish con man but he was always in love with the team.

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Boston was the seventh largest television market at the time Sullivan bought the Pats. If the franchise had been awarded to another city, it is likely that Boston eventually would have gotten an NFL expansion team. The AFL went to New England because it was the sweetest city in the new league, based on potential TV revenues.

Brit patriot said:

I love the sport, but I hope that transitory system stays your side of the Atlantic

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Technically, the Patriots left England and moved to America.

Brit patriot said:

As a Brit, I will never understand the idea that franchises can just move, and to hell with the fans of the current team. It seems vile.

What do they do? They can't support a local rival as they will be natural enemies. It just seems to finish the fan's involvement with the sport.

I love the sport, but I hope that transitory system stays your side of the Atlantic

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Sorry to mention this, but I think the Millwall football club is moving. Hopefully their fans will stay put.

King Air Pilot said:

The reason your post is laughable is because it lacks any effort, thought or research. Use the existing lines? It's about 20 hours of travel on the existing lines. One way!

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I read his original post as referring to the Raider fans in LA. Lots of travel up from LA to Vegas on various party buses, etc. Lots of Raider fans in LA, thus...

Vegas has the money, they could easily afford a new stadium outside of The Strip.


I do feel for the Raiders fans because no matter how bad their team was they stayed loyal and kept selling out season tickets. But the problem is that the City of Oskland got bunch of pricks and won't invest in a new stadium and it's stupid!

Pats1989 said:

So the Raiders will play a few lame duck years in Oakland before moving? That's a slept in the face really.

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As a Patriots fan, that's fine by me. The Raiders have the best young QB in the league, a young defense and were clearly the 2nd best team in the AFC this year. If it wasn't for Carr's injury, Oakland hosts Pittsburgh today - and we probably had KC last night.

I don't mind the fact that they are going to have to deal with this huge distraction for a couple years.

thecore762 said:

Vegas has the money, they could easily afford a new stadium outside of The Strip.


I do feel for the Raiders fans because no matter how bad their team was they stayed loyal and kept selling out season tickets. But the problem is that the City of Oskland got bunch of pricks and won't invest in a new stadium and it's stupid!

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That's just not true. This year was the first year Oakland ever sold out their season tickets. That dump of a stadium was regularly half empty during the down years. This is not a fanbase that turns out during the hard times.

Mr. Plow said:

Sorry to mention this, but I think the Millwall football club is moving. Hopefully their fans will stay put.

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Really??? Jesus

Brit patriot said:

As a Brit, I will never understand the idea that franchises can just move, and to hell with the fans of the current team. It seems vile.

What do they do? They can't support a local rival as they will be natural enemies. It just seems to finish the fan's involvement with the sport.

I love the sport, but I hope that transitory system stays your side of the Atlantic

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Its legal extortion.

NFL owners know that most larger cities without an NFL team would bend over backwards to have one. They create jobs, bring in tax revenue and if you have a new shiny stadium, a Super Bowl is likely in your future. Another bonanza for the local economy.

So, some owners ask for new stadiums to be paid for by the cities and states or want incentives out the ying yang. When the answer is FU they threaten to move out of town and to greener (as in money) pastures. Usually, the city loses its nerve in the 11th hour and agrees to pay for the stadium with some investment from the owner.

If the Raiders continue improving, I can see them doing well in developing a strong fan base in Las Vegas or whatever city they happen to move to. They seem to somehow have fans just about everywhere. Personally, I would have liked to have seen them move to LA again, but that's probably just due to sentimental memories of their previous stint there. I just can't see the Chargers gaining much traction in LA, but now that the owner moved the team there, he'll be the one who has to face the consequences.

Something that does somewhat appeal to me about the Raiders moving to Vegas is that when the Pats have away games there, we could make a fairly inexpensive and fun weekend trip out of it.

Like many previous posters, the thing that concerns me most is loss of tradition and continuity. Teams find their way into the bloodline of their fans. When they leave, teams take something truly meaningful away from their fans, young and old.