The Las Vegas Raiders are holding training camp in Southern California, a hotbed of support for a team that built one of the most loyal brands in sports during its tenure in Los Angeles.
But local fans are not invited, nor are local media.
Thanks to the NFL’s territorial marketing rights rules, the Raiders aren’t even allowed to promote the fact that they’re holding training camp in Costa Mesa, an Orange County community south of Los Angeles.
The Raiders were based in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994 and became part of the city’s culture. Today, Los Angeles is officially Chargers and Rams territory, although the city’s most passionate football fans still wear black and silver on Sundays.
So the Raiders will hold summer practices in relative darkness, even though fans are just a short ride on the 405 from training camp. At least, as quick as a ride on the 405 can be.
The Raiders open training camp in Costa Mesa on Tuesday and will remain there through Aug. 9. It is the first time the team has held training camp in California since moving from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020. Because of territorial rights with the Rams and Chargers, the Raiders cannot advertise that they are within 75 miles of Los Angeles. They also cannot invite local media or fans to attend. Las Vegas media who choose to make the trip are welcome.
“Each club has an exclusive territory extending 75 miles in all directions from the outer corporate limits of the city for which it owns a franchise,” league policy says. “If another club conducts its preseason training camp within that exclusive territory, then it may not be marketed locally.”
Owner Mark Davis addressed that policy While speaking to ESPN.
“That’s where we’re going to have camp, but the Chargers and Rams have the ability to stop us,” Davis said. “That’s OK.
“It would be nice if all the fans could be there, but like I said, the Chargers and Rams have that capacity.”
So do the Raiders really benefit from training in Los Angeles if they aren’t allowed to tap into that local market? There are certainly advantages. The weather in Orange County during a sweltering summer is considerably more appealing than the Nevada desert.
Head coach Antonio Pierce, who played nine seasons in the NFL and came up with the idea to coach in Orange County, touted the bonding experience for players in getting out of town.
“It’s about team togetherness,” Pierce told ESPN. “When I was playing… we never stayed in our facilities. I was used to traveling and going away and locking myself in, 90 or 85 players at a time, or whatever.
“And the unity of the team, getting together and getting to know each other, to get away from all the distractions. It’s all about football. Just football.”
If getting away from home is the ultimate goal, then there are certainly worse options than landing in Southern California. But the Raiders (and their fans) surely crave more.