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Arizona Cardinals: Raiders move to Las Vegas

By Scott Allen

August 30, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) catches a touchdown pass against Oakland Raiders inside linebacker Ben Heeney (51) during the fourth quarter in a preseason NFL football game at O.co Coliseum. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
August 30, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) catches a touchdown pass against Oakland Raiders inside linebacker Ben Heeney (51) during the fourth quarter in a preseason NFL football game at O.co Coliseum. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Cardinals will now have an opposing team less than 300 miles away

Sure San Diego was always fun.  Los Angeles is alright.  However as of Monday afternoon, Arizona Cardinals fans will have an even closer road trip to take.  How does Las Vegas sound?

On Monday, in a 31-1 vote, the Oakland Raiders were approved by league owners to move to Las Vegas. According to ESPN.com, only the Miami Dolphins voted against the move. The move is likely to take place for the start of the 2020 season.

Originally when we discussed the move a couple of months ago, it was thought the Raiders could move in time for the 2019 season.  With a reported 32-month building schedule, that now looks to be a year later.

So what does this all mean?  Well the Cardinals still only play the Raiders once every four seasons and it isn’t always a road game.  But it is another option for fans to see a game only four-five hour drive away.

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There are a lot of Raiders fans in the Valley so you can expect a lot of people here to make the trek to Las Vegas, like many needed another reason.  It will eliminate Las Vegas however as a market for teams in Arizona and California.

The stadium renderings look very nice, so in that sense it will be exciting to see the venue once it opens.  What it also will likely do however is bring competition for University of Phoenix for events in the west.

The Raiders are expected to continue to play in Oakland for at least the next two seasons.  What happens in 2019 is currently unknown.

As players and coaches have said, for me this is a bit of mixed feelings.  While it is exciting for football to be in Las Vegas you can’t help but feel for the people of Oakland.  Raiders fans are known to be very passionate about their team.

The Raiders tried for a long time to get a new stadium.  They moved to Los Angeles and then back. Now they are on the move again.  Don’t be surprised if the Cardinals get into a regular preseason rotation with the Raiders being closer now.

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