Looks like Raiders may move to Vegas

[shawn_hemp]

You know what I don't get?

Everyone on tv is all flabbergasted that the Raiders are leaving Oakland and it's like... they've already left before when they went to LA...

People need to realize that nothing is sacred in pro sports anymore. If an owner can get 750 mil in public money to build a new stadium in a better market, they're going to do it.

ESPECIALLY when the franchise has already moved on the city in the past, then came back when they realized that LA is an even worse sports town than Oakland

I heard some fan say "If Al were alive this wouldn't have happened!" and it's like wtf?

Al Davis was the one who kicked and screamed loud enough to move from Oakland to LA the first time

If you don't want to pony up money to build a new stadium, odds are some other city will. I know that sucks and isn't fair, but all I know is that you don't see too many teams relocating away from the Northeast part of the country. The last time that happened was the Hartford Whalers who were always a fringe market anyway.

If there is a prevailing attitude of indifference to pro sports in your area, owners will always have an eye on a place that they can make more money in.

It's pretty embarrassing how many pro sports teams move to LA thinking they will be successful and accepted and it turns out nobody cares.

Ultimate fair weather fans, literally and figuratively

[Cactus Jack]

You know what I don't get?

Everyone on tv is all flabbergasted that the Raiders are leaving Oakland and it's like... they've already left before when they went to LA...

People need to realize that nothing is sacred in pro sports anymore. If an owner can get 750 mil in public money to build a new stadium in a better market, they're going to do it.

ESPECIALLY when the franchise has already moved on the city in the past, then came back when they realized that LA is an even worse sports town than Oakland

I heard some fan say "If Al were alive this wouldn't have happened!" and it's like wtf?

Al Davis was the one who kicked and screamed loud enough to move from Oakland to LA the first time

If you don't want to pony up money to build a new stadium, odds are some other city will. I know that sucks and isn't fair, but all I know is that you don't see too many teams relocating away from the Northeast part of the country. The last time that happened was the Hartford Whalers who were always a fringe market anyway.

If there is a prevailing attitude of indifference to pro sports in your area, owners will always have an eye on a place that they can make more money in.

It's pretty embarrassing how many pro sports teams move to LA thinking they will be successful and accepted and it turns out nobody cares.

Ultimate fair weather fans, literally and figuratively

The West coast in general (politically speaking) is pretty liberal and for the most part very much against public stadium funding. That's why area's like Seattle, the Bay Area & California have dealt with stadium/Arena issues. Despite strong fan support. I would make the case that the Bay Area & NW (Seattle/Portland) are actually some of the best & most passionate fans in the country. The problem isn't fan support. It's the politics which get in the way.

[shawn_hemp]

So you're saying everyone wants these nice things but nobody should have to pay for it?

Sounds about right for liberals

[Cactus Jack]

So you're saying everyone wants these nice things but nobody should have to pay for it?

Sounds about right for liberals

The NFL is a 14 billion dollar a year business. I think they can afford it.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/06/nfl-will-reach-14-billion-in-2017-revenue/

[shawn_hemp]

Ok but the stadium will also generate money for the city in so many different ways.

To say that the owners should have to foot the entire bill while reaping the benefits of having a pro sports franchise in your city is kind of hypocritical IMO

That's why most stadiums are met in the middle as far as funding goes

[FNQ]

So you're saying everyone wants these nice things but nobody should have to pay for it?

Sounds about right for liberals

Ridiculous and inaccurate political rhetoric aside, the reason why Oakland wasnt paying is because of the gentrification of SF bleeding into Oakland, with all the new Oakland money voting against any sports that cost anything to the taxpayers, because frankly - they don't care about sports at all. This 'new money' is mostly coming in from the middle of the country and the middle of the state (Silicon Valley), people who have no reason to follow sports at all. And with the general reputation of the Raiders and their fans, it was a foregone conclusion that they were going to leave for a while.

FYI - stadiums have proven to be a drain on local economies, not a boon. If they were a boon, cities would be tripping over themselves to accommodate the NFL. But they aren't, and there's a fairly simple reason: they have to foot a massive bill for a stadium that may or may not sit mostly idle for the year. It is only a manageable business choice if you have the support of local businesses, and with Oakland becoming a cut-rate SF for cut-rate tekkies, there was less and less support by the day. Guarantee that if Libby Schaaf (Oakland mayor) actually passed that last minute "offer" by Oakland voters, it would have been shot down in minutes. The offer was strictly a plea for votes from loyal Raider fans who were poised to vote against her for this one issue.

[FNQ]

The West coast in general (politically speaking) is pretty liberal and for the most part very much against public stadium funding. That's why area's like Seattle, the Bay Area & California have dealt with stadium/Arena issues. Despite strong fan support. I would make the case that the Bay Area & NW (Seattle/Portland) are actually some of the best & most passionate fans in the country. The problem isn't fan support. It's the politics which get in the way.

If you consider gentrification politics, then yes.

But the people who've been around Oakland for most of their lives are being uprooted a lot, and moving farther in-land. And taking their place are the displaced Silicon Valley types as the Bay Area continues to become a tekkie hub. And as more of those votes come in and more lifelong Oaklanders are leaving, stands to reason that the city's loyalty to the team would wane - even if the tekkie types were interested in football at all, which they aren't.

Proof is in the pudding - the Warriors, who have a nice arena in Oakland that is used for so many other things besides the W's, are moving to SF. Paid most of the bill themselves. Oakland could have easily matched, but they again stood firm in paying nothing. So the Warriors decided that if they werent going to get any assistance from the city of Oakland, they may as well go to a place where they can upsell tickets and have a cherry location.

Meanwhile the A's stadium is always one bad flush away from being an above-ground sewer, and the city of Oakland collectively shrugged at that. The drastic change has been in the community, and the current community just doesnt value sports. I wouldnt be surprised if in 5 years, the Warriors, Giants and 49ers are the only teams in the Bay Area. This includes the Sharks, A's, Raiders, and possibly the Kings again.

[Ballerhogger]

It more of a free market + capitalism move by the owners. Owners dont have to do anything they don't want to. The obvious money is there. People will go in debt on betting on the raiders. The team is doing really well with a lot upside as of now. If they cant find good enough defense. It will be bad for the Oakland area. Obviously if you live in Las Vegas area you are going happy about it.. I will be interested in what NBA response to this is.

[bluejerseyjinx]

Ok but the stadium will also generate money for the city in so many different ways.

To say that the owners should have to foot the entire bill while reaping the benefits of having a pro sports franchise in your city is kind of hypocritical IMO

That's why most stadiums are met in the middle as far as funding goes

Just another filthy ploy for the exceptionally rich to get out of paying their fair share of taxes. Don't spin this like its the Liberals fault or their way of thinking. Your an idiot.

[Ballerhogger]

I will be interested to see what actually transpires as far job market goes. How many people will move to CA to Las Vegas from the Oakland area and stay there? Will there be any new team interested?

[Cactus Jack]

I will be interested to see what actually transpires as far job market goes. How many people will move to CA to Las Vegas from the Oakland area and stay there? Will there be any new team interested?

People won't move to Vegas. It's a vacation destination. Fans will travel on weekends.

[Otis Driftwood]

I will be interested to see what actually transpires as far job market goes. How many people will move to CA to Las Vegas from the Oakland area and stay there? Will there be any new team interested?

People won't move to Vegas. It's a vacation destination. Fans will travel on weekends.

I've got friends there. They agree. The business sector is fairly stagnant. Without an uptick there, there is no reason to move in. But - I do see the travel industry picking up a tick or two.

[bleu]

I will be interested to see what actually transpires as far job market goes. How many people will move to CA to Las Vegas from the Oakland area and stay there? Will there be any new team interested?

People won't move to Vegas. It's a vacation destination. Fans will travel on weekends.

I've got friends there. They agree. The business sector is fairly stagnant. Without an uptick there, there is no reason to move in. But - I do see the travel industry picking up a tick or two.

Vegas actually has far more people living there than most realize. People always just think about the strip, but there are TONS of suburbs surrounding the city and it's one of the quickest growing US cities. It's larger than Baltimore, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. I don't know exactly what all those people do for work, but the city of Las Vegas must be doing something right.

[Otis Driftwood]

People won't move to Vegas. It's a vacation destination. Fans will travel on weekends.

I've got friends there. They agree. The business sector is fairly stagnant. Without an uptick there, there is no reason to move in. But - I do see the travel industry picking up a tick or two.

Vegas actually has far more people living there than most realize. People always just think about the strip, but there are TONS of suburbs surrounding the city and it's one of the quickest growing US cities. It's larger than Baltimore, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. I don't know exactly what all those people do for work, but the city of Las Vegas must be doing something right.

My friends live in the suburbs. Have for years. And I recall there was a significant growth spurt in the 2000's as the new casinos found their way there and the old ones expanded. But the last time I talked to them, they seemed to think things "had slowed down" a little in terms of new jobs but the economy was humming along just fine.

Regardless - the Raiders will have an impact. I know that if the Cowboys were going to play there and I had a buck or two, I'd make the pilgrimage. Of course that won't be for another 4-8 years and I'm not as spry as I used to be.

[Revived]

Once the Raiders move out, I wonder how many years it will be until Oakland gets a team.

Just feels weird to imagine Oakland without an NFL team.