The Great Depression in Raider Nation is finally over!
It all started 2003, after the Raiders were blown out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl. Legendary owner Al Davis was in the last days of his life so if he didn’t lose his touch, he was blinded by his urgency to see his team go to one more Super Bowl and win it.
When operating under such circumstances, professional franchises usually falter. So with the exception of Nnamdi Asomugha in 2003, all of his 1st-round picks were busts. He also gave out big contracts to players that were no longer dedicated to the sport of football.
That would lead to sagging ticket sales, which led to blackouts and messages on billboards to Davis, telling him to either sell the team of bring in a GM to help him with player personnel. It looked like the depression would end in 2010 and 2011, but not quite, and Davis died.
Enter new owner Mark Davis and GM Reggie McKenzie and for three years, it got darker. But in the midst of that darkness, McKenzie started building and now, there is hope in Raider Nation! The demand for season tickets is the highest since their return to Oakland.
Turn the page for a look.
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