Back
Las Vegas NFL Team History | LeoVegas

Las Vegas Raiders NFL Team

In 2020, the Oakland Raiders made a bold move, bringing their iconic silver and black NFL team to the desert of Las Vegas. Since then, they've seamlessly settled into their new home, captivating fans and establishing a strong presence in Sin City. With the support of an enthusiastic fan base, Las Vegas has embraced its status as a two-team town, alongside the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights.

Table of Content:

The Raiders' relocation highlights the evolving landscape of professional sports and Las Vegas's emergence as a premier destination for major leagues. More pro sports are coming to the Strip, but for now, let’s delve into the Raiders’ big move and rehoming.

Introduction

NFL teams have rocketed in value over the years as team ownership has been seen as an extremely attractive asset, seemingly immune from the fluctuations of the economy and volatility of other assets.

As team values have increased, teams and the league have coveted new stadiums, ownership groups with extremely deep pockets, and locations that have large potential television audiences. The small market teams have been getting squeezed out over the years. The city of Oakland, California, has certainly been one of those locations that has been on the bad end of the trend. Oakland has lost not one, but two teams to relocation, and in this case, to the same city: Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas has been growing at a torrid pace for years. The culmination of events like the repeal of PAPSA (allowing sports betting in states not named Nevada) and the dissolution of pro sports leagues’ policies of not allowing teams in Nevada, has made Las Vegas the top choice for relocation. New stadium, new arena, new ballpark. Its transformation into a premier sports destination is admirable, alongside the benefit of fan bases that travel to see their teams play on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s a top-tier destination for the leagues, a 180-degree reversal from years gone by.

The owner of the Raiders, Mark Davis, son of the legendary Al Davis, decided to move the franchise to Las Vegas and take up residence at Allegiant Stadium. The city of Oakland, long synonymous with the Raiders franchise, is feeling the void. If you’ve watched the Kelce documentary or are an NFL fan, you likely understand that support for a home team can often go back generations. Such a move should not be undermined in importance nor heartache. Additionally, the NFL as a whole felt the reverberations of the move, as it underscored the shifting dynamics of professional sports relocation and the influence of economic factors on franchise decisions.

But, on a happier note, the Raiders move to Las Vegas has highlighted Sin City’s emergence from a gambling mecca to a premier destination for pro sports. Currently, the Oakland Athletics are relocating to Vegas, and there are even talks of an NBA franchise before the end of this decade.

Relocation and Rebirth

Relocation was a contentious situation for the ardent fans of the Raiders in Oakland. Oakland, who had already lost their beloved Raiders to Los Angeles two decades earlier, had felt the excitement of their return to the Bay Area, and once again had to endure the heartbreak of the team’s departure.

Every plan for a new stadium in Oakland, something that was required to keep the team stationary, was struck down by the City of Oakland, or Alameda County. The Raiders were playing in a football/baseball hybrid stadium, and time had passed Oakland Colosseum by. The usual squabble of public vs private funds came into play, and with Oakland unwilling to move to assist the team in a new residence, they took up residence in a state to the East.

Allegiant Stadium broke ground in late 2017 and was completed in the summer of 2020 at a cost of roughly 2 billion dollars. With Oakland unwilling to support such a venture, Las Vegas became the new home of the black and silver, now Las Vegas Raiders.

The support from the fan base established in Las Vegas has been beyond expectations. A city devoid of a major league franchise until the expansion Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL arrived in town, was suddenly a two-team town and the fan base has made up for lost time in its support.

Roster and Key Players

  • Davante Adams, Wide Receiver
  • AJ Cole, Punter
  • Maxx Crosby, Defensive End
  • Robert Spillane, Linebacker
  • Tyree Wilson, Edge
  • Michael Mayer, Tight End
  • Daniel Carlson, Kicker
  • Jekobi Meyers, Wide Receiver
  • Josh Jacobs, Running Back
  • Jack Jones, Corner Back
  • Austin Hooper, Tight End
  • Aidan O’Connell, Quarterback

Coach and Home Arena

The Las Vegas Raiders' home arena is Allegiant Stadium, located in Paradise, Nevada. The stadium opened in 2020 and has a seating capacity of 65,000. The team's current head coach is Antonio Pierce, who was named interim head coach in 2023 before earning the full-time position in the 2023 offseason.

Major Achievements and Highlights

If you’re looking to nail down the Raiders, Oakland and Las Vegas inclusive, top achievements, look no further than Al Davis.

Best known for his influential role as principal owner and GM of the Raiders, Al was instrumental in shaping the NFL landscape through his pivotal involvement in negotiating the AFL-NFL merger, expanding the popularity of Monday Night Football, advocating for diversity with groundbreaking hires, and revolutionizing football strategies.

Al Davis led the Raiders to three NFL championships (1977, 1981, and 1984) and numerous AFC Championships and division titles. In all sense of the word, Al Davis is a legend.

NFL Finals

Becoming three-time champions of the NFL’s biggest show and game is no small feat. Claiming their first in the 1976/77 season versus the Minnesota Vikings, their second in 1981 against the Philadelphia Eagles, and their third in 1984, when they defeated the Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders).

The latter probably holds the most intense moments, when in the closing moments of the first half, linebacker Jack Squirek intercepted a pass from the Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann and returned it for a touchdown. Squirek's interception return stunned the Redskins and gave the Raiders a commanding lead heading into halftime, shifting the momentum of the game in their favour.

NFL Hall of Fame

Several iconic figures associated with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders franchise have earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Among them is Al Davis, the team's principal owner and visionary leader, who played a pivotal role in shaping the NFL landscape.

On the team roster, legendary players such as Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, and Howie Long have also been enshrined for their contributions to the Raiders' success on the field. Additionally, trailblazers like Art Shell and Gene Upshaw, who excelled as players before making significant impacts as coaches and executives, are celebrated. These Raiders Hall of Famers exemplify excellence and represent the rich history and tradition of one of the NFL's most storied franchises.

Las Vegas NFL FAQs

What was the Raiders old name?

The Las Vegas Raiders team was previously known as the Oakland Raiders. A similar relocation is in the works for the Oakland Athletics team, oddly enough. It seems that the economic pull and infrastructure it allows Vegas to commit to is an intense draw for professional teams.

When was the last time the Raiders made the playoffs?

The NFL Raiders have appeared in five Super Bowls and won three; in 1976, 1980, and 1983. In terms of making the playoffs, 2016 and most recently 2021, were successful years for the Las Vegas Raiders with special mention to their 2021/2022 NFL season that resulted in 2nd in the AFC West Division with a season record of 10-7.

Do the Raiders have a mascot?

Raider Rusher is the official mascot of the Las Vegas Raiders. He’s a big-headed, er, massive-headed young boy sporting a spiked helmet with a superhero black eye mask dressed in official Raiders gear. Full of energy and crazed athleticism, he works well igniting spirit in Las Vegas crowds.

When did the Raiders move to Las Vegas?

The announcement came down in January 2020 that the NFL Oakland Raiders would be relocating to Las Vegas. But, as you can likely recall, 2020 had much of the US deep in pandemic mode, so home games were played without fans during their first season in the desert.