The Las Vegas Raiders officially relocated from Oakland after NFL owners approved the move on March 27, 2017 , with a 31-1 vote. The team played its final seasons in Oakland through 2019 before debuting in Las Vegas for the 2020 NFL season.

Timeline

  • Approval Phase (2016-2017): Talks heated up in early 2016 with owner Mark Davis touring Vegas sites; a stadium deal with Sheldon Adelson emerged, including public funding via hotel taxes. By March 2017, the NFL greenlit it despite Oakland's failed stadium pitches.
  • Transition (2018-2019): Raiders stayed in Oakland's Coliseum on short-term leases, rebranding quietly amid fan backlash.
  • Official Move (2020): They opened Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, becoming the Las Vegas Raiders —their first out-of-California home since origins in 1960.

Fan Reactions

Oakland supporters felt betrayed after decades of loyalty, sparking protests and lawsuits. Yet Vegas has drawn new energy, with recent forum chatter calling it a "home run" for attendance and NFL growth—though black-hole vibes differ from the East Bay roar.

"Raider Nation is the greatest fan base... we're going to build something to make them proud." – Mark Davis, post-approval

Stadium Spotlight

Allegiant Stadium, a $1.9B domed marvel, hosts Raiders games and events like Super Bowl LVIII. It's boosted Vegas as an NFL hub, per 2025 discussions.

Legacy Impact

This marked the Raiders' third relocation (Oakland → LA → Oakland → Vegas), ending Coliseum woes. Five years on, it's trended positive for revenue and spectacle, though some miss the old grit.

TL;DR: Approved 2017, moved 2020—Silver and Black now shines in Sin City.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.