The relationship between the Raiders and the City of Oakland has been long and grueling, and according to recent events, this drawn out breakup will have to wait yet another season. The team already has plans to move to Las Vegas for their 2020 season. After initial talk of possibly sharing fields with either the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara or even sharing the now called “Oracle Park” of the San Francisco Giants, Oakland has finally decided to host the Raiders in their upcoming season.
Although the tension between the City of Oakland and the Raiders may have prevented a one year deal from being made, the two have arranged a deal to stay at the Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders were a homeless football team for a moment, but they will be returning to the black hole one final time for the 2019 season.
In addition to these substantial off the field problems, the Raiders have also been severely underwhelming on the field. The team appears unmotivated and uninspired, which was reflected in their 4-12 record and last place finish in the American Football Conference. Although they may have acquired a number of high draft picks, they have come at the cost of trading away many core and fan favorite players, and though draft picks may look like a smarter plan for the long run, there is no guarantee that these picks will be able to provide the necessary revival of the Raiders team.
As the 2018 season came to a close for the Oakland Raiders, players quite literally waved their fans goodbye for what looked like the last time. After moving back to the Coliseum in 1995, it appeared that the Raiders’ 23 year legacy was coming to a close. For many fans, the move to Las Vegas was already upsetting, and paired with the attempt to stay in Oakland one more year, felt like a slap in the face. For a team that has provided only seasons filled with loss and trading away fan favorite players, the Raider Nation has stood by their team regardless. Although the move is not because of the fans, it is upsetting that the Raiders and the City of Oakland could not achieve a compromise. The Raiders may acquire a new host of fans in Las Vegas, but they’ll never be able to recreate the legendary atmosphere unique to the Oakland Coliseum.