Alameda Posts Heartfelt Message About Raiders Move

ALAMEDA, CA — The decision to move the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas is a stinging loss for fans throughout the area, but the loss will be felt most acutely here in Alameda.

Around 250 local residents work at the corporate headquarters.

The City of Alameda posted a heartfelt message on Facebook Monday about the move:

Since 1996, the City of Alameda has been privileged to be the actual home and corporate headquarters of the Oakland Raiders. The entirety of the Raiders’ franchise—its facilities, personnel and players, sports legends and celebrated history—brings glamour, prestige, and excellence to our community. All news releases from this internationally known franchise are officially datelined from Alameda.

The Raiders are one of the largest employers in City, with approximately 250 employees. They maintain a state-of-the-art facility, recently investing millions of dollars into a new workout facility at the team’s corporate headquarters. The Raiders also have strong relations with our local hotels, where many of the players, coaching staff, and personnel stay during pre-season and home games.

While the Raiders have been an important part of our business community, the City also has a sentimental relationship with the team. Many Alameda residents have season tickets; there are heroic pictures of Raiders posted in our local sports bars. As elsewhere in the East Bay, the Raiders have a strong and enthusiastic fan base here in Alameda, which is where this loss will be felt the hardest.

(AP File Photo/Paul Sakuma)