Last week in Oakland was emotional. It was the final Raiders game ever in Oakland Coliseum. It was the end of an era. One that began in 1960 in a stadium that was home to many great Raiders moments, including two Super Bowl-winning teams. The next actual home game they play will be in their new stadium in Las Vegas.
Now a week after saying farewell to their own stadium, the Raiders will head to their second home for another stadium farewell — Dignity Health Sports Park.
The stadium formerly known as StubHub Arena has been the home of the Chargers since all the way back in 2017. They moved into the 30K-seat soccer stadium after Chargers owner Dean Spanos abandoned San Diego for the pleasure of the Rams’ stadium tenant in LA.
But before they shack up with the Rams, the club and its tens of fans will give a teary-eyed farewell to their temporary digs of the past few years.
“It’s a little different than it used to be playing at the old San Diego Chargers stadium,” Jon Gruden said Wednesday. “You’re playing at a venue that really is a temporary venue for them. I’ve got a lot of respect for this rivalry wherever we play it, but California football right now is in limbo. 49ers moved, we’re moving, Chargers moved, Rams moved, so there’s a lot of moving parts, but I enjoy playing this matchup. Always have.”
I’m old enough to remember when the Raiders and Chargers played in Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. The crowds there were often about a 50-50 Raiders fan ratio. After the team made it known they were leaving, the final Raiders-Chargers game in December of 2016 was dominated by Silver & Black. Many of whom came down the freeway from Los Angeles.
Since they arrived in LA, most of the San Diego fans dumped the team and it has struggled to dredge up fan support a few miles north. So, those seats are typically filled with opposing fans.
That goes especially for when they play the Raiders as Raider Nation is quite strong in the city. And as much as the LA fans enjoyed their annual mini-vacay down to San Diego, they seem to enjoy having a rival game in their backyard just as much.
That will probably continue when the Chargers move into the new stadium in Inglewood, tho tickets will probably be a bit more expensive.
That’s for another day. This Sunday the Chargers will join Raiders fans in bidding farewell to their 3-year temporary home in Carson.
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