Despite the Oakland Raiders organization’s delicate balance of serving their current market and their future home of Las Vegas, the team’s former players are embracing it and not making apologies.
After spending the night surrounded by Oakland Raiders greats at the Raiders Foundation‘s Celebrity Swing fundraiser at TopGolf in Las Vegas last night, one thing is for certain – they’re all excited and ready for the team to embrace and settle into their new home.
Since a good majority of the Raiders alumni present played in either Oakland or Los Angeles, or both, I was careful to weave in my incorrect assumption the move was something they viewed as bittersweet. In almost every interview or interaction I had with them about the Las Vegas relocation, I used that word – bittersweet – as a preface to the question of Las Vegas. And time and time again, each echoed the same thought: it’s what’s best for the team and there are no apologies for it.
“You never like to see a team move if they can stay where they are,” said Raiders offensive line great Steve Wisniewski. “But this [Las Vegas] is such an exciting city to be a part of. Who doesn’t love to come to Las Veags…it’s going to be great for everyone.”
Well, for everyone outside of bitter YouTubers.
Still, as the months go on, more and more the talk is moving from lamenting the loss of Oakland as their home to being squarely focused on the future and what it means for the nomadic franchise.
“On one hand it may be bittersweet but I think over time things change,” Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown said. “This change is needed for the Raiders and for them to walk into a stadium of their own…for them to do that is going to be an incredible thing and I think the team will respond accordingly.”
Hall of Fame WR Tim Brown said Las Vegas gives the Raider their first true home.
Time and time again, that was the message from former players. All are embracing the move with increasing enthusiasm and not couching it with any regret.
“Everyone’s excited about moving here, believe me,” said Raiders Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown. “The players, staff, and administration are all excited about getting here after nothing was happening in Oakland.”
The truth is Raider Nation is an international tribe. While Oakland – and LA – have been home, the future of the team is in Las Vegas and everyone knows it. The physical relocation may not occur until 2020, but make no mistake: the Raiders are focused on their new home. They’re active in the community almost every single week, and fans are excited about it. Despite views to the contrary, the community’s connection to the franchise is building quickly.
It’s time for Las Vegans to embrace the team as our latest point of civic pride. And, like we heard from Raiders alumni, no one should feel bad about it. The team may be playing in Oakland at least one more year, but it’s already Las Vegas’ team.
Helping Those Who Served
Last night’s Celebrity Swing event benefited Veterans Village, a transitional and permanent housing residence for United States Veterans. The organization “…is a unique and innovative approach to holistic and comprehensive housing with 24/7/365 crisis intervention center intensive support services. Public and private collaborative partnerships have been created to provide supplies and services to residents including housing, medical and mental health services, employment training, referrals and placements, food pantry/nutrition programs and transportation to the VA Hospital and primary care clinics.”
The Las Vegas business community was out in force as names like MGM, Laborers Local 872, Findlay Auto Group, and more, donated to take part in the event. The Raiders continue to support the organization in Las Vegas and this event was their most high profile event yet.
Each organization paid a minimum of $750 for a golf bay and time to mingle with the current Raiders players and Raiders alumni on hand for the event. There was also a silent auction for Raiders memorabilia.