Viva Las Raiders!

Photo caption: A professional football team is finally coming to Vegas.

Just win baby. Monday in Phoenix, the NFL owners voted to relocate the Oakland Raiders here in Las Vegas. Only needing 24, the Raiders received 31 of the 32 possible votes, with only Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross opposing the move.

The move to Vegas went through due to the inability for Oakland to negotiate a new deal for a stadium to replace the current Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Raiders are expected to stay in Oakland for at least two more years, and possibly three, as the proposed $1.9 billion, 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas is not expected to be finished until 2020.

Once the Raiders come into town, they will become the second professional sports team in Las Vegas, as the Golden Knights will be an expansion team in the NHL beginning in the 2017-2018 season. The Raiders moving and the creation of the Golden Knights mark an incredible time to be growing up in Las Vegas.

While this is an exciting time for us here in Vegas, many Raiders fans are upset about the team moving away from Oakland. Many fans from Oakland have vowed that they are done cheering their beloved team, and some have begun to burn Raiders jerseys.

“The Raiders were born in Oakland and Oakland will always be a part of our DNA,” said Raider’s owner Mark Davis. “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.”

Fans from the Bay Area may be angry about the relocation, but other fans may find this move more convenient. Los Angeles has long been a Raiders Town, as the Raiders played there from 1982 to 1994. The move to Vegas would help give LA fans a quicker and easier route to come watch their beloved Raiders.

Despite all of the emotions, whether it is anger or excitement, it is a great time to be living in Las Vegas. With the new stadium coming, it opens up opportunities for Vegas to host Super Bowls, Final Fours, College Football Playoff games, and more. With the Raiders and Golden Knights coming, who knows what other sports will come.