“The Raiders were born in Oakland, and Oakland will always be part of our DNA,” Davis said. “We know that some fans will be disappointed and even angry, but we hope that they do not direct that frustration to the players, coaches and staff. We plan to play at the Coliseum in 2017 and 2018, and hope to stay there as the Oakland Raiders until the new stadium opens. We would love nothing more than to bring a championship back to the Bay Area.”
UPDATE (2:09 p.m. ET): It’s official: The Oakland Raiders are on the move.
The team will be moved to Las Vegas after an overwhelming majority of the NFL’s 32 owners voted in favor of relocation Monday at the NFL Annual Meeting. The Miami Dolphins were the only team to vote against the move, according to multiple reports.
In team statement, Raiders owner Mark Davis announced the franchise would remain in Oakland for at least two more seasons before making the move to Vegas.
ORIGINAL STORY: Goodbye, Black Hole. Hello, Sin City.
The Oakland Raiders have secured the votes necessary to move the franchise to Las Vegas, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday morning.
The NFL’s owners are set to vote on the matter Monday afternoon at the NFL Annual Meeting. Twenty-four of the 32 must vote in favor of relocation for the move to officially go through.
The Raiders, who are coming off their best season since 2002, would be the first NFL team ever to call Vegas home. The move would give the city two professional sports franchises, as the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights will begin their debut season this fall.
In a conversation Monday with ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expressed optimism that the Raiders’ motion to relocate would be approved.
“I think we will have a vote, and I think we will have a positive vote,” Goodell said. “I think we are in pretty good shape.”
With the exception of the stint they played in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994, the Raiders have called Oakland home since 1960. The team finished the 2016 season 12-4 but bowed out in the wild-card round of the playoffs after quarterback Derek Carr broke his leg in Week 16.
Thumbnail photo via Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports Images
