Every team but the Miami Dolphins voted in favor of relocation
Tony Maglio | March 27, 2017 @ 12:05 PM
Last Updated: March 27, 2017 @ 12:58 PM
Oakland Raiders on 'Sunday Night Football'
The NFL overwhelmingly approved the Oakland Raiders’ planned relocation to Las Vegas, Nevada with team owners voting 31-1 in favor of the move on Monday. The team will continue to play at The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for a few years as construction on a desert stadium begins — there may be a temporary relocation for 2019.
Watch the National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell’s remarks about the vote here:
Commissioner Roger Goodell's opening statement regarding the Raiders relocation to Las Vegas. https://t.co/tvfjzfts5h
Oh, and in case you were wondering, the lone dissenting vote came from Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. He’s far less excited than Raiders owner Mark Davis.
“My father always said, ‘the greatness of the Raiders is in its future,’ and the opportunity to build a world-class stadium in the entertainment capital of the world is a significant step toward achieving that greatness,” Davis said in a statement. “I would like to thank Commissioner Goodell, the National Football League and my 31 partners. I would also like to thank Governor Brian Sandoval and the Nevada Legislature for their commitment. Finally, I would like to thank Sheldon Adelson for his vision and leadership, without which this project never would have become a reality.
“The Raiders were born in Oakland and Oakland will always be part of our DNA. We know that some fans will be disappointed and even angry, but we hope that they do not direct that frustration to the players, coaches and staff,” he continued. “We plan to play at the Coliseum in 2017 and 2018, and hope to stay there as the Oakland Raiders until the new stadium opens. We would love nothing more than to bring a championship back to the Bay Area.”
Here’s more from him:
Raiders owner Mark Davis discusses the decision to relocate the team to Las Vegas. https://t.co/9uIHq8FslE
The Raiders have been lobbying the City of Oakland for a new stadium for many years, though they could never come to terms. The team toyed with the idea moving to Los Angeles like the Rams, but will instead find a new home in a billion dollar-plus dome near Sin City.
11 New Things to Watch for This NFL Season (Photos)
The NFL season officially kicks off on September 8. But there are a few things you need to know before the games get under way.
"Fox NFL Kickoff," hosted by Charissa Thompson (pictured), is getting a new addition: recently retired NFL cornerback Charles Tillman. They will be joined by analysts Colin Cowherd and Dave Wannstedt. The show airs each Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.
Over on CBS, there are new graphics, a facelift that was first premiered earlier this year at Super Bowl 50. The idea is to make the play easier to see on small devices. The score bar is now at the bottom of the screen.
On ESPN, Sean McDonough is the new "Monday Night Football" play-by-play guy, replacing Mike Tirico.
ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" -- the network's signature NFL pregame show -- has an entirely new cast. Anchor Chris Berman (in his last season) is joined by three new ESPN analysts -- Matt Hasselbeck, Randy Moss and Charles Woodson -- plus Trent Dilfer, who is new to Sundays.
Viva Mexico! One of ESPN's biggest games of the "MNF" season will be on November 21, with a Raiders vs. Texans matchup in Mexico City. This is the NFL’s first game in Mexico in 11 years.
NBC: NFL games on Thursdays! (Well, half of "Thursday Night Football" will be on NBC. CBS has the other half.)
And where has ESPN's Mike Tirico landed? At NBC, where he will be hosting "Sunday Night Football" from game locations.
NFL: more awful Color Rush. The “Color Rush” program that started with a few games in 2015 is now a full-blown season-long event -- mainly on Thursday nights. Look for NFL teams over the course of the season to break out new and -- you guessed it, colorful -- uniforms to give the teams, and their fans, a different look.
Football for the millennials: The NFL becomes first league to have its own Snapchat Discover channel.
NFL Network has a new morning show aptly named “Good Morning Football.” This show airs live Monday-Friday at 7 a.m. ET on NFL Network. The three-hour live show is the network’s first show to originate from New York City in its 13-year history.
There are some new NFL rules to know. (1) All chop blocks are now illegal. (2) A player penalized twice in the same game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls will be automatically disqualified. (3) After a touchback resulting from a kickoff or safety kick, the ball will be placed at the receiving team’s 25-yard line. (4) In 2016, the NFL expanded the horse-collar rule to include times when a defender grabs the jersey at the name plate or above and pulls a runner toward the ground.
That's 11 new things. And here's a bonus for an even dozen: Super Bowl 51. The big game is scheduled for Feb. 5 in Houston.
