The Oakland Raiders organization is attempting to trademark the name “Las Vegas Raiders”, according to Forbes. The name has been filed with the intentions of using it for entertainment services, promotional uses and merchandising. Although this doesn’t confirm a relocation, this shows that the Raiders are intent on bringing football to Las Vegas. The San Diego Chargers filed a similar trademark recently for a Los Angeles move, but it didn’t get anywhere. This situation may end up like the one the Chargers went through, or it could mean the second team relocation in under a year.
The move in itself is a big one for the NFL. Las Vegas is one of the biggest markets in the United States that doesn’t have a pro football team. The move is happening right as the Raiders appear to be on the upswing. Bringing a potential playoff team to Las Vegas would be huge from a business standpoint.
A relocation would also put an end to the Raiders’ 20-year tenure in Oakland. While they have the smallest stadium in the NFL, their fans are among the best in the NFL. Their impact on California will definitely leave millions upset with the move. However, if Mark Davis and Co. are fine with this, they will waste no time in moving to Las Vegas.
