The Raiders won’t begin play in their new home until 2020. However, fans in Las Vegas showed their enthusiasm around the city on Monday.
NFL owners approved the Raiders’ move with a 31-1 vote. They will play in Oakland for the 2017 season and potentially the 2018 season (if they renew the lease at the Oakland Coliseum). The Raiders will then have to find a home for 2019 before moving into a brand new stadium the follow year.
That last part is still a few years away, but fans in the Las Vegas area are already excited. On Monday afternoon, there was a Raiders Rally near the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign.
Las Vegas Raiders fans are holding a rally to welcome their new team. pic.twitter.com/yStRrxB8yu
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) March 28, 2017
The move will be the second for the Raiders away from Oakland as the team moved to Los Angeles 35 years ago. The news didn’t sit well with Oakland native Damian Lillard, who made a joke at the expense of Raiders owner Mark Davis. You can see it here. In an attempt to soften the blow, Davis said he would be willing to refund season tickets already paid for.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr wrote an emotional note about leaving the city, which he shared via social media. You can read that here.
