The Raiders have kicked off their switch from Oakland to Las Vegas by pledging to help eliminate meal debt across the state of Nevada.
The iconic NFL franchise, officially unveiled as the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday, made a donation of $500,000 to the Nevada Department Agriculture Meal Service program which provides lunch and breakfasts at schools.
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Players have also been engaged, with fullback Alec Ingold and tight end Darren Waller handing out lunches at a local elementary school on Tuesday.
“Four years ago, we told the state of Nevada that you’re getting more than a football team, you’re getting an army, you’re getting the Raider Nation,” said Raiders owner Mark Davis.
“We told them they’d be getting an army and working in the community is the thing we do the best. Schools, charities, everywhere and anywhere we can make a difference.”
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The Raiders’ move to rename their franchise was approved in March 2017, the latest in a number of identity changes the team has undergone.
They were the Oakland Raiders between 1960 and 1981, and then again between 1995 and 2019. In the intervening period, the franchise went by the Los Angeles Raiders between 1982 and 1994.
The silver and black will play home games at the newly-built, 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas next season.
“The Raiders were born in Oakland, and played 13 seasons in LA,” said Davis.
“Both cities will always be part of our DNA but today we begin a new chapter in our storied history. From today, January 22, 2020, we are now the Las Vegas Raiders.”
The NFL has also announced that the 2020 draft will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25, while Conor McGregor has expressed his interest in headlining the first ever combat event hosted in the new stadium.
