Nevada Gets Second Professional Sports Team

The U.S. state of Nevada, which once had no professional sports, is quickly moving up the ranks. It is sure to be an interesting season, as the state has recently acquired the professional NFL team, the RAIDERS, formerly based in Oakland, California. The move comes after a 31-1 vote by the NFL owners, which took place this past Monday at an annual league meeting in Phoenix. While this is a major feat for Nevada, Bay Area fans of the team, and even the team’s players, will have a difficult time making the switch, with the Raiders having been a California-based team for 45 total seasons. Though only 24 votes were needed to make things official, this number was far surpassed, with only the Miami Dolphins voting against it. Mark Davis, the individual who took over the team following his father’s death (Al Davis) in 2011, provided a statement regarding the move for ESPN.com: "I understand [Oakland fans] will be angry and disappointed. I want them to know that I do understand that it’s emotional. Raider nation is the greatest fan base in the world and we’re going to build something to make them proud.” The process began in April of 2016, when Davis made an announcement that he wanted the team to move to Las Vegas. The announcement was followed by a $500 million pledge for a domed stadium. It has certainly been a difficult time for the Raiders’ fan base. In fact, just this past Friday Oakland’s mayor, Libby Schaaf, made one final attempt to keep the team, by proposing a $1.3 billion stadium proposition, ultimately dismissed by NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell. In addition to its recent acquirement of an NFL team, the state has also recently become the home of the NHL Golden Knights. Source: Morrison, K."NFL Owners approve Raiders move to Las Vegas". March 28, 2017.