Raiders Moving Training Camp to California a Wise Idea

The Las Vegas Raiders organization aims to keep its ties to California strong.

Jul 26, 2023; Costa Mesa, CA, USA; A general overall aerial view of Los Angeles Chargers training / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Las Vegas Raiders are among the most storied organizations in the National Football League. After spending nearly their first 60 years in California, the Raiders moved to Las Vegas in 2019, marking a significant change in the organization's and the NFL's direction. The Silver and Black have successfully transitioned to the desert, routinely selling out Mark Davis’ prized Allegiant Stadium. 

Although Las Vegas is home now, Raiders fans and Davis himself make it clear the team’s ties to California will never die. Nor should it. The Raiders represent more than a football team. They represent a way of life to the millions of people who make up Raider Nation, most of whom began following the team while in Los Angeles and Oakland, respectively. 

As Las Vegas begins a new era and looks to move past the disappointments of the last few seasons on the field, Davis and the Raiders have extended an olive branch to their fans in California by moving their training camp to Costa Mesa, California, just south of Los Angeles where the Raiders made many memories for their fans. The one-year deal between the Raiders and the City of Costa Mesa was approved by the Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday.

The Raiders will always be synonymous with California. There are still people who mistakenly refer to them as the Oakland Raiders and fans who still wear Los Angeles and Oakland Raiders memorabilia as a sign of their longstanding following of the team. For many Raiders fans, their fandom was passed down from prior generations of fans in their family.

No matter where the Raiders go, they will always represent California.

The Raiders recently requested to use the Jack Hammet Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, the former training location of the Los Angeles Chargers. Moving training camp is a meaningful gesture by the organization for the team, its fans, and the community. The Raiders have pledged multiple forms of resources to benefit the Costa Mesa community, proving the training camp move is more significant than football.

Considering the connection, it would be hard to imagine new Raiders general manager Tom Telesco didn’t have at least a small part in the idea to move this year’s Raiders training camp to his former team’s former facility. However, regardless of where the idea came from, it is another wise move made by Telesco and the Raiders organization.

Keeping their connection to California strong will be vital in the fanbase’s continued support in Las Vegas.

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