Fansided

Raiders’ relocation makes Oakland an attractive future option

By mdelaney

Jan 1, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders fan holds a sign in reference to the possible future location of his team before the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders fan holds a sign in reference to the possible future location of his team before the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Raiders are on their way out of town but that doesn’t mean Oakland will become a forgotten sports city.

It’s now certain that the Oakland Raiders will be making their third move in franchise history to Sin City with NFL owners voting 31-1 on the topic. Oakland will become the Las Vegas Raiders–the second time in less than two years that a major sports team has occupied the area’s market. And while equally groundbreaking for Vegas residents and disheartening for East Bay inhabitants, not all is lost for Oakland.

Sports columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, Tim Kawakami, floated this nugget over Twitter earlier this morning.

It’s some bittersweet news for the Sliver & Black faithful. On the one hand, they could get another team to come into town. The Mercury News posited that a poorly performing, small-market team like the Jacksonville Jaguars and their relatively new owner in Shad Khan could be lured to the left coast if Jacksonville continues to bottom out in north Florida. Though that theory counters the popular belief that Khan will push to make his franchise the first international NFL team with a possible relocation to London in the near-but-unclear future.

On the other, it offers a potential worst-case scenario where San Francisco could receive another team on top of the 49ers to share Levi’s Stadium with. Whether or not the second team would identify with Oakland or San Francisco remains to be seen.

Next: Jason Terry is a role-player who plays coach

In the hearts and minds of Raiders fans still occupying the bay area, however, it’s hard to look at the situation with a ‘glass half full’ perspective. The Raiders flight from the area burns–just like it did in San Diego in January and in St. Louis last year. Simply put, they feel forgotten. The recency of the move is clouding their perspective as a great location for a sports team, but the fan base remains hurt. It won’t jump on the bandwagon of any new team for a while.

My advice to Raiders fans? Watch the Golden State Warriors. The Raiders are skipping town for bigger and better things, so no point in dwelling on the hurt.

Home/Las Vegas Raiders