Raiders move to Vegas is a disgrace
What a slap in the face. At least when the Rams split from St. Louis, they went to Los Angeles immediately. At least when the Colts moved out of Baltimore in the middle of the night, they went right to Indianapolis. At least the original Browns went right to Baltimore. At least when the Chargers had to wait to move to Los Angeles they did (even if half-heartedly) try to get a new stadium deal done with San Diego.
Sports franchises moving is nothing new and it’s always both heartbreaking for the fans in the city that were left behind and exciting for the fans of the new city, but the way the NFL and the Raiders organization have handled this newly approved move to Las Vegas is a new low for every party involved.
First of all, if the Raiders should have moved anywhere it is Los Angeles. They are still the most popular team in that city and were there once before. They should have returned but were denied while Rams owner Stan Kroenke forced his way to Los Angeles and the Chargers used their southern California territorial rights to become the second team there in 2017.
Before the Raiders tried to move, their billionaire owner tried to use Las Vegas as leverage to have the local Oakland government spend hundred of million of taxpayer money to build a new stadium. Kudos to the city for standing strong and not doing that, but at the end of the day one of the most loyal fan bases in the entire NFL, a group that was among the most ravenous even when the team was the worst team in the league for a decade.
And now that the team is finally good, they’re leaving.
Oh, except they aren’t right away, and that is the worst part of it all. The Raiders will be moving to Las Vegas but will be spending the 2017 and 2018 seasons in Oakland while a new stadium is built in the desert.
Horrible.
The Raiders will be leaving, but they’ll be sticking around in Oakland for two years, wanting the people in Oakland who they are leaving to continue their support for a team that is now contending but doesn’t have any interest in continuing the to call Oakland home. And on top of that, the Raiders are increasing ticket prices, some by 185-percent.
Considering the circumstances, it’s hard to imagine the Black Hole being filled for the next two seasons, and it’s impossible to blame the fans if they don’t show up.
Corey Johns
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