THE LAS VEGAS Raiders are returning to Southern California … not that you’ve got heard a lot, if something, about it.
Triumphant horns and exuberant strings won’t emote “The Autumn Wind” to announce their arrival. Nor will silver and black confetti fall from the sky to have fun their return.
The Raiders, who referred to as Los Angeles house from 1982 via 1994 and keep their huge reputation in SoCal, are heading to Costa Mesa in neighboring Orange County for 18 days of coaching camp, with veterans reporting Tuesday and breaking on Aug. 9. But due to NFL coverage, the Raiders can not promote their presence.
No billboards. No newspaper advertisements or radio commercials. Las Vegas media can cowl camp, however no invitations for L.A. or Orange County media. Nor will practices be open to followers, although some VIPs, choose season-ticket holders, sponsors and invited friends shall be allowed into the Jack Hammett Sports activities Complicated, about 40 miles south of SoFi Stadium.
Since completely relocating from St. Louis and San Diego, respectively, the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers share territorial advertising and marketing rights to the realm.
“Each membership has an unique house territory extending 75 miles in all instructions from the outside company borders of the town for which it holds a franchise,” per league coverage. “If one other membership holds its preseason coaching camp inside that unique territory then it can’t be marketed domestically.”
Better of NFL Nation
• Marcedes Lewis’ superb longevity• From Kirk to J.J.: Inside Vikes’ strikes• How Lance has skilled for future• Colts’ Richardson leaves little question• What to observe at Jaguars’ camp
However coaching camp should go on, with or with out the general public realizing.
“That is the place we’re having camp,” Raiders proprietor Mark Davis informed ESPN, “however the Chargers and Rams have the flexibility to dam us from [promoting.] It is advantageous.”
Davis paused.
“It might be good if all of the followers might be there, however, no matter. Like I stated, the Chargers and Rams have that capability.”
All of it makes for an ungainly if cool return to a haven of Raider Nation.
THE RAIDERS HAVE held coaching camp at their Henderson, Nevada, facility since shifting to Sin Metropolis in 2020 (they referred to as Napa, California, their coaching camp house from 1996 via 2019). So getting out of the Southern Nevada warmth — the place July and August temperatures common over 100 levels — for camp whereas persevering with to increase their model in a fertile fan base appeared a fruitful gesture.
However league sources acknowledged the Raiders, with their reputation, establishing store the place two different groups do their enterprise, didn’t go over properly with both the Rams or Chargers. At the same time as there was a “extra the merrier” vibe for camp, a league supply stated. “That is the upside,” the supply added, “extra groups.”
Officers with the Rams and Chargers declined to remark.
So, why did the Raiders transfer coaching camp to a spot the place not solely their normal fanbase couldn’t watch, but additionally the place they may not market the crew?
The transfer was the brainchild of Antonio Pierce, who’s getting into his first full season as Raiders head coach. He grew up 30 miles away, close to Compton, earlier than embarking upon a nine-year enjoying profession with Washington and the New York Giants.
“It is about crew bonding,” Pierce stated. “Once I performed … we by no means stayed at our facility. I used to be used to touring and going away and sort of [being] bunkered up, 90 or 85 gamers at a time, or no matter it was. And crew bonding, getting collectively and attending to know each other, to get away from all of the distractions. It is all about ball. Simply ball.”
Davis agreed.
“One of the best a part of not doing it in Las Vegas is the bonding,” Davis stated. ” … When camp is right here [in Henderson], the vets, those which have properties right here, they go house and see household. If you’re away at camp, you are collectively. That sort of bonding.
“It was one thing Antonio wished to go after.”
Curiously, there shall be 5 NFL groups inside 100 miles of one another throughout camp. The New Orleans Saints are holding theirs in Irvine, not removed from Costa Mesa. In the meantime the Rams (Thousand Oaks), Chargers (El Segundo) and Cowboys (Oxnard), shall be within the L.A. space.
The Cowboys have been in Oxnard on and off since 2001, earlier than the Rams and Chargers returned to the Los Angeles space, and had been basically grandfathered in with clearance for advertising and marketing and open practices.
WHEN THE RAIDERS relocated from Oakland, they nonetheless had designs on holding coaching camp in Napa each offseason. However the pandemic prompted NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in 2020 to drive all groups to carry camp of their respective services that summer season, forcing the Raiders to remain of their newly constructed Henderson facility.
It labored out so properly the Raiders stayed put. But even then, there was not sufficient room for open-to-the-public practices, so solely choose season-ticket holders, VIPs and sponsors had been allowed in.
Such was the case, too, in Napa, the place the Raiders started letting in fan teams in 2012 solely after the dying of longtime proprietor Al Davis, who tried to maintain prying eyes at a minimal.
With Costa Mesa a one-off scenario, the Raiders may probably eye a return to Wine Nation and even Northern Nevada, the place the Raiders additionally had designs on finally going earlier than the pandemic. However Napa may additionally current comparable advertising and marketing/media points with the San Francisco 49ers, the lone crew in Northern California for the reason that Raiders moved from Oakland 4 years in the past.
The Raiders’ SoCal sojourn is a one-year deal that features the crew paying $165,000 in lease to the town of Costa Mesa with different “contributions” that embrace $600,000 in enhancements to the fields on the advanced; 100 tickets for native college students to attend an NFL sport in Southern California; donation of outside weight coaching tools to Costa Mesa Excessive Faculty; and a brand new cell recreation van for packages in underserved areas.
“I ain’t ever been [to Costa Mesa] earlier than, so I am trying ahead to it,” Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers stated. “It is going to be an excellent time.”
They return to Henderson for the rest of camp after an Aug. 10 preseason sport towards the Minnesota Vikings, and, sure, choose followers shall be allowed at sure practices. They will additionally maintain two open-to-the-public night time practices at Allegiant Stadium on Aug. 14 and 20.
All of it has Joe Ortiz, president of the Black Gap booster membership’s Los Angeles chapter, feeling a sure approach. His favourite crew coming so close to his house sans the hoped-for and anticipated accouterments, is bittersweet, he stated.
“I could not even get tickets [to the Costa Mesa practices],” stated Ortiz, a concrete technician who grew up in South Central L.A. and now lives in Anaheim. “However [everybody] knew they had been coming. I am certain people who present up will help the crew. It is superior as a result of all people will present up, but it surely sucks that you may’t get in. It is a good looking scenario however…”
Ortiz’s voice trailed off.
He stated he often will get 300-400 followers at his tailgate get together at SoFi Stadium when the Raiders come to city.
“We’re diehards,” he stated. “It does not matter the place they go, we’re there.”
Besides camp, a transfer that the Raiders hope pays dividends.
“We have got to win, man, that is it,” Davis stated. “And, hopefully, this may assist.”