SoCal Tops 2022 Record With 5 Teams With Maxx Crosby’s Raiders Opting To Train Closer To Their Roots

The Las Vegas Raiders are moving to the new hub of the NFL, Southern California! After hopping to Las Vegas from Oakland, the team will return to The Golden State after the Costa Mesa City Council ruled in their favor with votes of 7-0. The opportunity came for the franchise after the LA Chargers decided to move to El Segundo for this season.

Costa Mesa will now be sporting black and silver colors, with the Raiders set to start their pre-season training at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex. While the team moves out of their home city, they move closer to their fan base in the southern part of the state while also escaping the blistering heat of Vegas.

Las Vegas Raiders becomes the 5th NFL team to train in SoCal

Maxx Crosby’s crew would be bidding adieu to their Henderson practice facility in Vegas to the NFL’s current cluster in Southern California. The one-year deal entails $165,000 in rent and $600,000 in renovations. The Raiders would be installing a Team Junior Training Camp for pre-teen kids and a new Mobile Recreation Van as per the contract. Furthermore, the team will provide 100 tickets to a league game for students and provide donations for outdoor weight training equipment to Costa Mesa High School and $10,000 to a local youth sports team.

The Raiders will be the fifth team to have its training camp in SoCal, along with the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, LA Chargers, and the LA Rams. Before 2015, Los Angeles didn’t have a single NFL team to bring traction with their training camps since 1995. This year, the Raiders’ deal breaks the region’s 2022 record when it hosted four teams: the 49ers, the Rams, the Chargers, and the Cowboys. After the Raiders overtook the Houston Texans for the spot at Costa Mesa, the only hindrance in their path was promoting the franchise in the region.

The Rams and Chargers have established their stronghold in SoCal in line with the NFL’s policies, but the team’s counsel assured that a mutual marketing deal is underway. Now that the formalities are en route to being resolved, we’ll soon see Crosby and Brock Bowers training in Mesa in July. But this also brings us to the question: how does the move to SoCal benefit the Las Vegas team?

Why did the team shift their training camp to SoCal?

From an outsider’s point of view, the deal doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense, considering the Las Vegas Raiders are moving out of their home to a region already catering to four other teams. However, there are certain factors that validate the franchise’s shift. First of all, Crosby and the squad have their own fanbase in SoCal and have a history associated with the place. The Raiders played 12 seasons at the LA Memorial Coliseum from 1982 to 1995 before shifting to Oakland.

Another reason for the shift is to avoid the sweltering heat of Vegas and enjoy the football ecosystem that has sprung up around the Chargers and the Rams. Several revenue-drawing ventures like musical nights and stage shows catering to fans will be a good opportunity for the franchise to promote its team and connect with the community. Furthermore, having multiple teams in the same area allows joint practice.

The Las Vegas Raiders will enjoy a change of scene in Costa Mesa and connect with their neighboring fans. Led by Antonio Pierce, the team soon plans to commence their training camp with the aim of improving their 8-9 record from last season.