OFFICIAL: Oakland Raiders Are Moving to Las Vegas

It’s official, the Oakland Raiders will be on the move once again, this time to Las Vegas, Nevada following a vote amongst NFL owners held earlier today in Phoenix.

Owners voted 31-1 in favour of the relocation, the Miami Dolphins were the lone objector (per @AdamSchefter), this would be the third time the Raiders have relocated throughout their franchise history, and the second time they’ve left Oakland.

As construction of the new domed stadium in Las Vegas isn’t anywhere near completion, the team will remain in Oakland for the upcoming 2017 and again in the 2018 season. Their contract with the city expires following the 2018 season so a temporary venue may be necessary in 2019, likely in the Las Vegas area, the new stadium will be ready for 2020.

The team had trademarked the name Las Vegas Raiders last summer so it would stand to reason that this will be the name they will assume either in 2019 or 2020 whenever the move actually happens.

The trademark filed by Oakland for the "Las Vegas Raiders" — The trademark filed by Oakland for the “Las Vegas Raiders”

The renderings of the new stadium are also showing the Raiders branding everywhere using “LAS VEGAS” as the identifier, there will be none of this “VEGAS” messing about in the NFL.

This is the third NFL team to get approval to relocate in just over a year, the Rams moved from St Louis to Los Angeles in January 2016 and the Chargers from San Diego also to LA in January of this year.

Previously a market sports fans weren’t entirely sure would ever get a professional “major league” sports team, Las Vegas will soon be home to two as hockey’s expansion Vegas Golden Knights are set to début in the NHL this September.