Fansided

Oakland Raiders unlikely to be first team considered for Los Angeles move

ByJosh Hill|
Dec 22, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders fan Luis Gonzalez tailgates with a Raiders helmet before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders fan Luis Gonzalez tailgates with a Raiders helmet before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders fans have fond memories of the team’s days in Los Angeles, but a return in the near future will take some maneuvering to make happen.

The NFL is gung-ho about expanding into large markets not only in America but around the globe. There has long been talk of the league moving a team overseas to London, but first there needs to be a move out west to Los Angeles before international expansion is considered.

Los Angeles is one of the largest markets in the world, yet it’s devoid of the most popular sport in the country. Twice the NFL has had franchises in Los Angeles but both times the teams moved. The Los Angeles Rams moved east to St. Louis in the 1990s and the Los Angeles Raiders have moved a few times in the past. Fans wanting to see the Raiders return to Los Angeles may have to wait though, as according to Albert Breer from NFL Network, the Raiders aren’t high on the NFL’s list of teams they’d like to see moved to L.A.

The San Diego Chargers seem the most likely team to move as they hardly have to actually move. Keeping an eye on the Rams returning is a bright idea too, as the team is in need of a new stadium and there has been backhanded threats about relocation should the public not want to fund one in Missouri. Still, for nostalgic purposes, having the Raiders move back to Los Angeles would be a brilliant move, but it’s not something that seems likely unless the Rams and Chargers reconsider and remain in their small markets.

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