Why Oakland fans should support the Las Vegas Raiders

This year, Oakland Raiders fans have the feeling of déjà vu all over again. For the second time in less than four decades, the Raiders are leaving the East Bay and heading south—this time to Las Vegas instead of Los Angeles. While many have already experienced the 1982 departure of Oakland for greener pastures, as a Raiders fan born in 1994, this will be my first trial in fan allegiance.

Since Mark Davis first announced his intention to relocate the team from California to Nevada, I have been asked by friends, strangers, and family members which NFL team I will support. For three years I bought myself time, deferring to the fact that the Raiders were still playing locally as an excuse to continue to root for the Silver and Black.

However, with the Napa Marriott empty for training camp this year, the move has gone from a future issue to a current reality. Though I had three years to make up my mind and choose a new team to support once the inevitable happened, the decision is still not easy, nor is it clear. And the deadline is here.

The Raiders represent a lot in my life: the best part of my relationship with my father; a colorful childhood attending games at the Coliseum; an opportunity to be a part of a diverse group of fans. Since my childhood I have followed the team daily…in the off-season, pre-season, regular season, and briefly in the 2016 post-season.

Unfortunately, the Raiders also represent a lot of embarrassment in my life: our former head coach previously fired for violence against women is now our offensive line coach; Al Davis selecting Derrius Heyward-Bey in the first round; drafting a can’t miss generational offensive lineman—Robert Gallery—who proceeded to give up the fourth-most sacks in the league during a season in which he missed three games.

We Oakland fans have paid our loyalty debt. We have witnessed days where our best player was a kicker; Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore our top receivers; a season robbed by Walt Coleman and the NFL; immaculate receptions and phantom penalties. Calls for Kerry Collins to take the starting snap echo in my ears. And if these insults weren’t enough, this team is moving to Las Vegas right when they are finally becoming good (maybe?).

So now, after enduring a 40% winning percentage over my decades of loyalty and the most memorable playoff game in my life featuring current XFL backup Connor Cook starting at QB, I am left with a tough decision. The team may have a new city but the players are still the same ones I read about, watched, and rooted to succeed. Can I abandon them?

Before committing to leaving the Raider Nation, I had to know which potential new fan base I would join. After years of the Bay Bridge Rivalry I can’t pick the local Niners; nor do I want to jump on a popular team’s bandwagon like the Cowboys. I thought long and hard about this, and have concluded to remain a Raiders fan because what choice do we have? There is no viable alternative but to follow the team to Nevada. Sunk-cost fallacy sure, but sports are emotional, not always logical.

Although I have decided to begrudgingly continue my Silver and Black allegiance, let’s not trivialize how painful it is to see the team go. The optimist in me wants to think of the Raider's move not so much as Oakland losing a franchise, but a new city joining our Raider Nation. I met many LA Raiders fans that would drive to the Coliseum to cheer on the team that left them too. Maybe now it’s my turn to commute.

If I can train myself to still hear Greg Papa’s voice every time the Raiders score a touchdown even though he now commentates for the 49ers, perhaps I can also picture the southern endzone and Black Hole when the Raiders score in the new Allegiant Stadium. As tough a pill as that will be to swallow, it is one Oakland fans have had to choke down before.

There is something special about Oakland. An underdog mentality is built into the city’s geography. The Town has always been overshadowed by our glamorous, more refined sister across the Bay. Much like a sibling rivalry where one was knowingly favored by the parents, San Francisco would always take anything from us once it was cool. They even took our basketball team once the Warriors started winning.

After so much turmoil and rumors, a decision has been made and Raiders football will be played in southern Nevada. Now it’s time for acceptance. Earlier this year my brother and I bought four tickets to the opening game in Las Vegas—though COVID-19 had other plans. Whatever the case, come autumn the wind blowing through the desert will be a Raider. This year’s roster features an exciting new draft class and talented young veterans. It will be hard not to feel the energy emanating from Vegas as they take the field at their new home, nicknamed the Death Star, for the first time. And as the trees all shake and quiver and quake, I will be there to continue cheering for my team, a new city of fans richer. But with it being Las Vegas, perhaps a few hundred dollars lighter.