For better or worse, Mark Davis is of a different mold than other owners in the NFL. He eats where you eat, drives what you drive (or perhaps you drive something a little better equipped than a 1997 Dodge Caravan), and probably more than any owner in the league, Davis has never been too proud to mingle with the fans.
But on Sunday afternoon, it was clear his popularity among fans (specifically those opposed to him moving the team) in Oakland could be running thin.
Nevertheless, Davis was there in Napa among the fans, speaking candidly.
Perhaps the most interesting account of Davis’ statements (and it sounds like he had some zingers) was the timeline he gave to move the team.
When asked if the Raiders are staying in Oakland, Davis’ response was, “For the next three years, yes.” Asked about his plans beyond three years, Davis didn’t mince words. “After three years, I want to go to Vegas.”
The full video can be seen here.
Obviously, much is still up in the air, but if this account is accurate, Davis’ plan appears to be to move the Raiders to Las Vegas for the 2019 season.
twitter: @raidersbeat
These owners depend on the loyalty of the fans to buy tickets to games, to watch games on TV, to buy hats and shirts and jackets, etc.. BUT when it comes time for them to show loyalty to the city, the fans, the state, it appears Mark Davis goes deaf. He only sees money from some rich guy in Vegas. That guy is going to want a piece of the Raiders, just like all the ither proposals here in Oakland. The dufference is the guys here live the area and care about the fans. Mark Davis is a stupid, disloyal and gullible man. Too bad the Raider Fans will suffer because of it.
Well Oakland the city is not helping the Raiders and it is not the safest place in the country. Add to that the fans have not been showing up in prior years notice the blacked out stands and let’s be honest they need a new stadium.
What does the city not being safe have anything to do with all this? That’s a stupid comment. Fans not showing up? The Raiders sold out all their games the last three years and this year they sold out all their season tickets and there is a waiting list. I really wish morons like you would stay off of sports websites.
Deacon John Mostler,
Every city has crime and if you put yourself in the wrong situation there is a chance your appropriate level of safety may be hindered. The Oakland Coliseum is very well managed, fully forced, and has seen their level of incidents greatly reduced year after year. While there is no report stating the data it is reasonable to believe the Oakland Coliseum and the area is equally and in some cases more safe than the other 31 NFL cities who host franchises.
Stay In Oakland
You do realize that Las Vegas is filled with it own myriad of problems.The city ranks near the bottom in education has some of the lowest hourly wages of any NFL city and twenty-five percent of the homes are underwater. So, please in the future prior to speaking on issues educate yourself on the issues in which you speak.
All teams are black out if they don’t sell buy a certain time that’s just the rules, but come Sunday morning that place is full and rocking. And you think Vegas is safe they don’t call it sin city for the hell of it. The were born in Oakland that’s were the belong. Send mark and a expansion team to Vegas and good luck with that.
BORN IN OAKLAND…STAY IN OAKLAND!!!
realy, the raiders first city was….get this…. SAN DIEGO!! When AL got control he moved the team to Oakland.
RAITERSFOR LIFE IN RENO,
You are wrong about the Raiders first city being San Diego. The Raiders were a new franchise that was rewarded after a team that was slated for Minnesota never came to fruition. You can read about that on the Oakland Raiders webpage.
http://www.raiders.com/history/timeline.html
NFL has gotten too big. The bubble will burst.
I have been a Raider fan for over fifty years? Now i been asking myself what in the hell is going on?? But i will tell you what is going ON? Mark Davis just doesn’t give a **** about the fans in OAKLAND HE NEVER DID AND HE NEVER WILL ALL HE GIVES A **** IS TAKING HIS SORRY *** TO LAS VEGAS And THE HELL WITH THE LOYAL Fans In OAKLAND And HAVING His FAIR WEATHER FANS IN LOST VEGAS! So let him take his Sorry *** to VEGAS AND WATCH HIS GREEDY *** LOSE Everything HE HAS! HA HA…………. ALSO i forgot One More Thing That Man Has More BS. THAN ALL THE BULLS Have In A LIFETIME! HA HA.
Then season 2018 will be the 48th and final year of my membership in Raider Nation!!!!!! We are the OAKLAND Raiders!!
For all those Nor Cal Raiders Fans who want to send a message to the NFL regarding the Raiders seemingly disinterest in Oakland please click on the link below.
http://0d3.7c4.myftpupload.com
Sincerely,
Stay In Oakland
Relax everyone!!! A Raider fan is a Raider fan for life! I don’t live in California and I will follow them everywhere!!! I will be at New Orleans for the season opener!!! Go Raiders – playoffs this year.
What is your definition of following TJ? Does it mean traveling to a new home of the team? The fan support for the Oakland Raiders in this instance is the need to support the team FINANCIALLY in Oakland. It does not mean that the fan base will not continue to like and support the team in spirit. It simply means the financial support is there only if the team continues to play in Oakland.
I know it will be strange to see them out of California but honestly should Davis do? He has tried to make things work with the it of Oakland they won’t budge. Should he continue to let them bend him over and take him from behind?
Loyalty is important but **** if the Raiders aren’t getting fucked in the stadium department. He tried to stay in state but the nfl fucked him on that too. So what should he honestly do?
Roland Deschain,
Can you provide any documentation of the Raiders making a genuine effort to remain in Oakland? IF so, please feel free to post it below.
Stay In Oakland
LUPO,
Your an idiot!! It has been public record the City of Oakland will not back an extremely needed new stadium. When they moved to LA with promises of a new or remodeled stadium did you quit being a fan. When they moved back to Oakland (with 2 more SuperBowl Wins) did you become a fan again. Did you give a **** about the LA fans???? I am a fan of the RAIDERS for LIFE!!! I could give a **** less what city steps up and builds them a new stadium that they deserve!!! I say good for that city for giving my RAIDERS what they deserve!!! Plus Silver and Black moving to Sin City. What an awesome match!!! I just want to get back to the hard nosed, rough edge Raiders of the past!! To hell with the PG Raiders lets get our asses back to the feared Raiders of the 60’s 70’s 80’s and even the 90’s. I would love nothing then having to go to Vegas to watch my Raiders play there home game. Way fucking better then going to Oakland!!!!!!! RAIDER FOR LIFE
RAIDER4LIFE,
Rather then calling someone names perhaps you could more constructively answer the question. The question was not what has the City of Oakland done to keep the Raiders. The question was “Can you provide any documentation of the Raiders making a genuine effort to remain in Oakland?”. Please feel free to show any form of documentation that shows the Raiders effort to remain in Oakland.
In regards to the Raiders leaving Los Angeles back to Oakland “(with 2 more SuperBowl Wins)” perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the heritage that is the franchise in the NFL with moniker name of Raiders. The first two World Championships were won by the Oakland Raiders.
http://www.raiders.com/history/super-bowl-xi.html
http://www.raiders.com/history/super-bowl-xv.html
Know your history.
Lupo
Stay In Oakland
Oh bad yes they were in Oakland when they won there 2nd SB but there rings and SB banners were in LA. AD moved back to Oakland with the promise of a new stadium and that was public. AHHHHH where is it??? What more proof do you need then them moving back into a shithole stadium. The Raiders would stay in Oakland if they built a new stadium and that is a fact. You city is going to lose the team for not stepping up like they promised Al Davis when he moved back!! The proof is in your city not approving any of the many deals presented to them over the years. You never answered if you quit being a fan when they moved. Well did you????
RAIDER4LIFE,
Honestly you cannot possibly be any more wrong regarding that Oakland promised the Raiders a new stadium if they returned. That deal was brought on by a key negotiator named Ed DeSilva or DiSilva Contruction (now DeSilva Gates http://www.desilvagates.com ). Ed DeSilva was critical to getting Al Davis to the table.
The head of the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Commission at the time was George Vukasin (who recently passed away http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/George-Vukasin-coffee-guru-and-Oakland-civic-6844908.php ). Between the two men they were the lighting rod for the Raiders return to the Bay Area. The deal to bring them back was the remodeling of the Oakland Coliseum (now affectionately knowns as Mt Davis). In a New York Times article:
“The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Board unanimously gave approval yesterday for George Vukasin, the board president, to offer Davis a 16-year lease agreement and a deal that would include a $31.9 million loan to the Raiders for relocation and operating expenses and up to $10 million for the construction of a new training facility for the team.
The Oakland City Council must approve a $70 million bond issue for renovations to the Oakland Coliseum, which will include adding 9,000 club seats and 175 luxury suites. If the issue is approved by the council, there will be a 30-day open period in which the citizens of Oakland can call for a referendum to reject the vote. A referendum killed a potential return by the Raiders in 1990. Vukasin doesn’t see any obstacles.”
You may read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/24/sports/pro-football-raiders-run-a-reverse-play-back-to-oakland.html
In regards to your question of stop being a fan. The answer is no. Fandom doesn’t start or end with the City in which they play. It ends with an interest in the team. When the team left for Los Angeles I continued to be a fan. However, sans one game in 1990 against Denver I did not financially support the team in the form of attending games. Finally after 10 years I did choose to become a season ticket holder of Los Angeles Raiders for the ’92 to ’94 seasons. In short, my allegiance as a fan never has wavered. However, my financially support is definitely tied to the heritage of the organization which is Oakland.
As I mentioned once before. Know your history.
Lupo
Stay In Oakland
LOL know my history. I do Jerkoff. Your words in your post!!
(The deal to bring them back was the remodeling of the Oakland Coliseum)
Stop the double talk Hillary!!!
Oakland did not stick to there promise and Mark Davis is done with the BS.
It is a business and it is a business that brings in a lot of money to the cities lucky enough to have a NFL team.
It is all public knowledge…. and you still can’t refer to anything specific.
Dear RAIDER4LIFE,
No offense. I am will not go into any sort of verbal name calling exchange. Simply put you still have not done either of two things:
1) Provided any sort of documentation regarding the Raiders making a genuine effort to remain in Oakland.
2) Provided any sort of documentation stating the City of Oakland promised the Raiders a new stadium upon return to Oakland.
I am familiar with what effort the Raiders have made toward remaining in Oakland. I simply asked you to provide them. In regards to the latter you will not be able to provide any sort of documentation stating the City of Oakland promised the Raiders a new stadium upon return to Oakland because no such documentation exists.
Listen LUPIE,
It is public knowledge that Oakland enticed the Raiders to move back with a major remodeling of the Coliseum. That never happened. That is why they moved out of Oakland to LA. LA said they would do the same thing and they did not. Let me call up the Law Firm for the Raiders and ask them to forward LUPIE all correspondence with the city. LOL All this crap has been in the news papers. All the back and forth between the city and the Raiders. Documentation LOL They have been publicly negotiating this subject for years now fool. What else do you want me to prove that there is no such thing as Bigfoot too. Do you want documentation that yes we did land on the moon. LOL Better yet ask Mark Davis for proof he has tried to negotiate with the city. He would laugh at you because IT IS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE
Seriously this is the Internet we aren’t required to give documentation of public knowledge for any argument we have. You can find it yourself if you so wish. But it is fact they have been trying to stay in Oakland Davis has been on record many times saying Oakland is the first choice. They don’t budge at all do **** right he says **** it and moves on.
If you owned a business in a familiar neighborhood but rent goes up landlord doesn’t wanna support any upgrades but across town fancy new area is more then willing to help…. what would you do?
Right on TJ! If any of you lived in NY and you were Raiders fans, would you be complaining about them moving to Vegas? It shouldn’t matter where they play to be a true fan. For owners, this is their “business”, not just a game, so they have to make “business” decisions that best suit the team. For all of the whining fans who don’t want them to move, they will double that amount of fans once they do move. So you can either boo hoo about it or support your team no matter what. Raiders gonna do what the Raiders goona do regardless…
You either love da raiders or hate um I love my raiders for life Oakland Raiders should stay in Oakland c’mon las Vegas raiders there no ring to that Oakland Oakland Oakland Raiders now that is special to the heart 2017 Superbowl Champions
WHAT DID THAT VIDEO SHOW? I DID NOT SEE MARK DAVIS SAY ANYTHING. I SEEN A 2 GUYS TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT SAY AND TALKED ABOUT WITH MARK DAVIS. 1ST OF ALL THAT IS WHACKED, WHAT I SAYING IS IF WE DON’T HEAR IT FROM THE ACTUAL MARK DAVIS AND NON OF US WHERE THERE WHY REPORT STUFF ON PERISCOPE,WHY. IM NOT HATIN DR. DEATH OR 66TH MOB I JUST DONT THINK IT OK TO MAKE REPORTS LIKE THAT. I PERSONALLY DONT CARE FOR THE 3 STOOGES GUY WITH THE GOD AWFUL HAIR DO! AKA MARK DAVIS. BUT IF YOU HAVE HIM SAYING THINGS BUT YOUR REPORTING THEM IN 3RD CLASS AND IT DIDNT COME DIRECTLY FROM MARK DAVIS THEN WHY REPORT THAT HE SAID THAT HE’S SAID THAT HE GOING TO STAY 3 MORE YEARS WHEN NON OF US ACTUAL SEEN HIM SAY THAT, WHAT IS THIS SOCIAL MEDIA COMING TO? THIS IS BECOME LIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL GOSSIP AND HE SAID SHE SAID. IT BOTHERS ME THAT ITS ALL BULLSHIT UNTIL IT ACTUALLY HAPPEN. IM NOT PUTTING DR.DEATH DOWN OR ANYONE ELSE, ITS JUST AMAZING HOW THINGS GET SAID OR DONE NOW A DAYS….. I HAVE BEEN A RAIDERS FAN SINCE JIM PLUNKETT FIRST SUPER BOWL WATCHED AND I BECAME A LIFELONG RAIDERS FAN SINCE. I DIDNT JUST START WATCHING RAIDERS FOOTBALL. LET’S SIT BACK AND ENJOY WHATS GOING ON I BELIEVE THAT ITS ALL GOING TO WORK ITS SELF OUT IN THE END. RAIDERS FOR LIFE”! STAY KOOL AND LET THE SEASON BEGIN! 🙂
That is a fair assesment. That is why we shared on our Facebook page requesting a representative of the Raiders comment regarding this development. That being said the individuals who spoke in the video are pretty well respected in their own right.
Stay In Oakland
It’s leverage pure and simple. They are stayin here especially after the playoffs coming near term. OAKLAND Raiders 2020
I’m a raider for life, so it don’t matter where they go. My only concern is our younger/immature players being around all that night life. We are finally moving in the right steps it would suck to move backwards due to outside influences.