The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t called Los Angeles, California, their home since the 1994 NFL season. Despite two other NFL teams, the Raiders still own the hearts of LA fans. No matter how much time has passed, the Raiders are by far the most popular team in the “City of Angels.” This is evident where it’s expected to be at least 60% Raiders fans in attendance for their week one game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders Culture Is Engrained in LA
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Despite only playing there from 1982-1994, arguably no team has captured their city’s heart the same way as the Raiders. The Los Angeles Raiders during their time in LA became a cultural phenomenon. While many people remember NWA wearing Raiders gear everywhere, a lot of people forget that teams like the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago White Sox switched their long-time looks to match the Raiders look at the time.
As the Raiders try to return to glory this season, LA still embraces the team over the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. Even other teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Francisco 49ers aren’t as well-liked in LA. The Raiders were the first LA team to win a Super Bowl in 1984, and the city has never forgotten that.
It’s Easier to See Them in Los Angeles
One of the biggest criticisms of the Raiders since moving to Las Vegas is the insane pricing. Even going back to their first season with fans in attendance, the Las Vegas Raiders have the most expensive ticket. Given the cost of living in California, it’s a lot less expensive to drive over and see the Raiders in Los Angeles than it is to fly out and see them play in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As a result, the Raiders have enjoyed a nice home-field advantage in their former home. It unfortunately has not translated to on-field success, as they have lost every regular season game they’ve played there since 2021. It has also led to the Las Vegas Raiders enjoying the unfortunate sight of their own home field being taken over by opposing fans who also travel to the games.
Mark Davis Wanted To Return To California
It can be argued that Al Davis never wanted to leave Los Angeles. He desperately wanted a new stadium from anybody who would offer him one due to the optics of having the Raiders playing in below-standard facilities. It never worked out, but possibly the closest he came to a new stadium was the infamous Hollywood Park site, though it fell through.
Mark Davis had wanted to return to Los Angeles in the 2010s. He had entered into an agreement with the Chargers to share a stadium in Los Angeles until the NFL owners shot it down. If not for the league pushing the Rams back to Los Angeles over the Raiders, then the Los Angeles Raiders would exist once again.
Unlikely Any Team Replaces Them
Given how strongly the city of LA loves the Raiders, it’s incredibly unlikely that any team will overtake them in popularity. It doesn’t matter how hard the NFL might try to force the Chargers or Rams on the city; they simply aren’t loved as much there. Even when the two teams blocked the Raiders from promoting their training camp in Cosa Mesa, the Raiders still generated the most buzz of all the teams practicing there.
The Chargers are seen as yet another San Diego team that ran to LA in hopes of making it big and catching headlines (see the Clippers). The Rams ditched Los Angeles for Orange County in 1980, then ditched Orange County for St. Louis in 1994. No matter how much time has passed, no football team will ever capture Los Angeles quite like the Raiders have.
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