The Las Vegas Raiders will return to their former home state of California for training camp. They will be hosting training camp in Cosa Mesa, California.
Previously, the Raiders had been hosting training camp in Henderson, Nevada since relocating in 2020. Before moving from Oakland to Las Vegas, the Raiders hosted training camp in Napa, California when they were the Oakland Raiders. They managed to outbid the Houston Texans for the site in Cosa Mesa.
One of the key reasons for the move has to be the climate in Henderson. When the Raiders hosted training camp in Henderson, the outdoor temperatures could reach over 106 degrees. The climate in Cosa Mesa is much more suitable for a training camp experience.
Another big reason for the selection of the site is that Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Tom Telesco is very familiar with the site. The Los Angeles Chargers have used the site since relocating from San Diego, California, in 2017. Telesco was the General Manager of the Chargers from 2013-2023.
An Epic Return for the Las Vegas Raiders
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It should be noted that a majority of the Raiders fanbase still resides in California. While “Raider Nation” is nationwide and incredibly loyal, the Raiders did play in Oakland and Los Angeles from 1960-2019. More members of the fanbase can attend training camp in Cosa, Mesa since it’s in Orange County, just outside Los Angeles.
Only Kolton Miller and Maxx Crosby remain from the old Oakland Raiders after the departure of Josh Jacobs. At the same time, new Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce will likely draw a crowd. Pierce is from Compton, California, and grew up attending Los Angeles Raiders home games, one of the biggest pros for hiring him.
The Raiders will enjoy an epic return to a fanbase that will come out in full force to support them. While the Rams and Chargers will also be hosting training camp in Los Angeles, the Raiders have a much larger fanbase in Los Angeles than either team. It’s a big reason why this return is so huge for the team.
This allows the Las Vegas Raiders to reconnect with their fanbase in California while maintaining their rapport with the Vegas fans. Cosa Mesa isn’t too far from Las Vegas, so fans of the Nevada team will still be able to attend. It also allows the team to remain the most popular team in Los Angeles over the Rams and Chargers.
California is Highly Sought After for Training Camp
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The weather in California makes the state the most sought-after destination for training camps. The Raiders aren’t the only out-of-state team that has decided to make California their home for the summer. Notably, the New Orleans Saints, with former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, will host training camp at UC Irvine.
The Dallas Cowboys will also be hosting training camp in California over in Oxnard, California. Adding in the Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers, six teams will be utilizing the state of California for training camp. This marks a massive direction change for the NFL, and it could create long-term changes across the league.
The majority of NFL teams tend to utilize locations that are closer to their home stadiums. This trend of teams moving towards California could be a telling ideology for the future. More teams could look to move their business to California in the future.
At one time, some teams used motels to house their teams for training camp. Some teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers use college campuses to situate their players and use those schools’ facilities for training camps. Having so many teams move their business to California could be a massive boost to the state and cause other teams to look west for training camp.
About the Author
Alex is a writer at Total Apex Sports and Total Apex Gaming. He’s a loyal fan of many teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco Giants. You can find him on X at @alex_furtotti
