Las Vegas-bound Raiders make pitch to become Hawaii’s team

By Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Advertiser (TNS)

Wednesday, March 29, 2017 | 3:20 p.m.

So, you may wonder ... how did a nice guy like Steve Uyehara become an Oakland Raiders fan?

"I had a really rotten uncle," said the Hawaii News Now "Sunrise" co-anchor and former sportscaster. "No, but seriously, he was a big fan."

The Raiders are doing what so many people from Hawaii have done in recent decades: They're moving to Las Vegas for economic reasons. And, again analogous with many islanders who have made the leap, it's because they can better afford a home there. One big difference is that the people of Las Vegas will pay for the Raiders' new stadium via taxes.

Also, although many fans in Hawaii -- including Uyehara -- are already adding a Raiders game to Sin City vacation plans, some do feel a sense of empathy for Oakland losing the franchise for a second time.

"I love this move," Uyehara says. "Although I agree with Stephen Ross. Owners should pay for their own stadiums."

Ross, the Miami Dolphins owner, cast the lone dissenting vote in the 31-1 approval of the move, which is expected to take place in time for the start of the 2020 season.

"My position (Monday) was that we as owners and as a league owe it to fans to do everything we can to stay in the communities that have supported us until all options have been exhausted," Ross told the Miami Herald. "I want to wish Mark Davis and the Raiders organization the best in Las Vegas.

"I believe when you own a team, you're a steward for the city," Ross said Monday. "It's like owning a utility company. And I just don't think everything was done to try and stay in Oakland. ... If the owner had been more proactive -- you can only make a deal when the owner wants to make a deal. Who are you going to negotiate with? How is it going to happen? There's got to be a driving force."

The Raiders become the third franchise -- all with strong followings in Hawaii -- to announce or make a move within the past two years.

The Rams are back in Los Angeles after 20 years in St. Louis, and San Diego is no longer home to the Chargers as they, too, move to LA.

It seems unlikely that three franchises within a 300-mile radius in Southern California and Nevada can tri-exist. But Rams fans in Hawaii are now much closer to their team's home games, and the Raiders' impending move is especially beneficial to fans here. Some are going as far as calling the Raiders the Aloha State's home team now, since Las Vegas is nicknamed the Ninth Island.

Travel agents are among those who have reason to be excited, too.

"I'm sure it will become a big deal, especially with the following the Raiders have in Hawaii, and how many Hawaii people live in Vegas," says Linelle Hanawahine of Sports Travel Hawaii. "Some prices will go up because of taxes and fees to offset construction of the stadium, but it won't be a make-or-break type of thing. Overall, I think it's going to be a good thing."

My brother, Joe, is a Raiders fan, as was my dad. Even though the first NFL game we attended was a Dolphins-Raiders preseason tussle, I was a Patriots fan largely because of Mosi Tatupu and Russ Francis.

Joe doesn't gamble very much, but says he is much more likely to go see the Raiders play if the game is in Las Vegas rather than Oakland.

So is Aiea resident Luki Thompson, even though he dispels the notion of Hawaii instantly becoming exclusive Raiders country.

"Too many dang Cowboys, Niners, Seahawks and Patriots fans here," Thompson said. "An NFL team in one of Hawaii's go-to vacation destinations creates another reason to hit up the Ninth Island; looking forward to getting season tickets. And, oh by the way, I've been a Raiders fan since Super Bowl XI, Oakland-Minnesota, first football game I watched from start to finish."

Don't forget Broncos and now Titans (Marcus Mariota) and Saints (Manti Te'o, Max Unger and Hau'oli Kikaha). And don't forget, some fans just hate the Raiders ... just like some people hate Vegas.

The Titans just happened to be in town to play the Chargers last fall the same weekend the University of Hawaii played at San Diego State. If the NFL schedule-makers are smart, and I think they are, they'll slate Tennessee or whatever NFL team Mariota happens to be on at the time at Las Vegas whenever UH is at UNLV.

Our deputy sports editor, Curtis Murayama, says travel packages for such trips should be six days long and called the Pick Six Special.

And is it possible that some Hawaii expats in Vegas become ex-Pats fans?