How They Got Their Name: Las Vegas Raiders

nfl.com

The Las Vegas Raiders are one of the most recognizable sports teams in the world.  The silver and black, instituted by Al Davis in 1963, has stuck around ever since and provided a “tough” look for the team throughout the team’s history in Oakland (twice), Los Angeles, and now Las Vegas.  But what about the team’s nickname?  Most people would think it has always been the Raiders.  But that’s not quite right.  Prior to the NFL when the AFL was created in 1960, Oakland’s professional football team was an original member.  When it was time to come up with a name for the team, team owner Chet Soda held a naming contest.  The winning entry would be the Señors.

Afterward, there were two reactions from the city and new fanbase.  First of all, basically everyone hated it.  It was meant to be a nod to the early Spanish settlers of northern California, but it just wasn’t flying with the new fans.  Secondly, everyone was skeptical that the Señors was actually the number one choice in the contest because it just so happened that owner Chet Soda had a habit of calling everyone “señor.”  With enough backlash, Soda decided the team would go with another of the name finalists: the Raiders.  So in less than ten days after initially being named the Señors, Oakland became the Raiders and the rest is history.

Garett