The Familiar Feel to Oakland’s Relocation Talks
- Cheolmin Im
- Mar 15, 2017
- 4 min read
Photo Courtesy of: Oakland Raiders Instagram
Raiders have been linked with relocation talks for over a year now. Ever since the Rams became the LA Rams once more, talks have heated up to the point where they received $250 million in public funds from the state of Nevada by October 2016, found a backer for financing their new stadium in Bank of America after casino magnate Sheldon Adelson withdrew his pledge, and filed paperwork to relocate by 2020 on January 2017. Things are looking up for the relocation party.
But if you go deeper into their argument, it doesn’t make any sense. Why are they spurning the Oakland faithful for the unknown, hostile environment of the Nevada Desert? Why are they giving up a market that is significantly greater than Las Vegas? And this team just started to hit its stride with a core breaming with talent and even greater promise in an All-Pro caliber QB Derek Carr, WR Amari Cooper, and DE/OLB Khalil Mack. Why break the synergy that Oakland faithful created for them at home? It is baffling.
If this story has a familiar feel, then you are on the money: this is familiar, no, a déjà vu of 1982, when the Raiders moved to Los Angeles, and of 1995, when they were welcomed back with open arms. One word summarizes the relocation tug of war between the city government and eventually displaced sports franchises: stadium.
The Raiders have requested for a new stadium for years, and they are justified to do so: after all, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is indeed a baseball field, and no matter how much you dress it up nicely, it will turn out to be ugly and unfitting as a football field (I felt Jeffrey Loria snort after I wrote this—but I digress.). The Coliseum is historic, but lacking in every single facet as a stadium fit for an NFL team: no luxury suites, exposure to natural elements, and heinous traffic among others.
Oakland in 1982, and Los Angeles in 1995 did not take the initiative to give them what they deserved. As a result, they each lost their home teams—and Oakland has made the same mistake twice. Raiders did not learn both times, but now they have took the lessons to the heart and found outside backers. Oakland is powerless as their team is slipping away again for good this time, and it is their own doing.
Oakland’s lawmakers do not deserve this rejuvenated team. They are hypocritical, so hypocritical to call this transaction as exploitation of trust when they themselves did not fund Oakland the stadium that they were looking for 21 years after the Raiders willingly came back even though Oakland did not do anything convincing enough of long-term commitment to the franchise. Now, mind you, I am aware of the infamous penny-pinching attitudes of the Davis family, and I know that it is an issue that they should attend to. However, when the two hometown cities denied them of the long-term commitment they sought year after year, it must be, has to be beyond infuriating. Their actions to seek outside help are justified and are the doing of the unhealthy relationship.
Even if the Vegas deal fell through, Raiders will be looking somewhere else. And where else would they look but a power vacuum that is the San Diego market? I believe that the Raiders will look at San Diego as their next option, if they already haven’t done so. San Diego seems to have taken a lesson with the shocking loss of the Chargers to Los Angeles, with the same underlying issue of stadium concerns. Raiders’ popularity in Southern California is undeniable, and the transition that they would make would be much less turbulent, if a new stadium is guaranteed. San Diego will be able to remedy and strengthen their economy, and re-establish a foothold in the NFL. It may be a match made in heaven. The prospect is something good to chew on.
Coming back to the consciously exercised ineptitude of city lawmakers, look at Montreal when they lost the Expos, or Seattle when Supersonics relocated, or even San Diego with San Diego Los Angeles Chargers. There is plenty of precedent. Sports towns, especially Oakland, should proceed with caution when dealing with this issue. But Oakland did not, does not, and will not. Cities will continue the trend in the future. Teams will move. Fans will be heartbroken.
It is sad that the true losers of this sort of debacle will always be the poor fans. Oakland fans are one of the most passionate in all of sports. After all the mediocrity, frustration, and heartbreak they have been through, they are rewarded with this. It is understandable that many will call the Raiders as traitors, but they instead should be pointing fingers at the city government for letting this happen—twice.
The city will be unnerved—after all, someone’s grub is another’s treasure. There will always be a team, frustrated with its own city, looking to relocate, and Oakland’s lawmakers will pounce on the opportunity. The team will be won over with talk of future promise. And history shall repeat.
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