Oakland Raiders announce future move to Los Angeles in defiance of NFL vote
In 1979, Raider owner Al Davis announced his intention to move the Raiders to Los Angeles. Negotiations between Davis and the Oakland Coliseum regarding potential improvements to the facility came to an end in February 1980. At the NFL's annual meeting on March 10, 1980, team owners voted 22-0 against allowing the move, wit… Moreh the Raiders not participating and five teams abstaining. Davis announced he would ignore the vote and move the team anyway.[3]

The Raiders played the entire 1980 season in Oakland. At a Monday Night Football game against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 1, 1980, Raider fans protested by entering the Oakland Coliseum five minutes after the start of the game and holding up signs stating "Save Our Raiders" at each half's 2-minute warning. By some estimates, “almost two-thirds” of the Coliseum's seats had been empty at the game's kickoff.[3]

The announced move was involved in four lawsuits: the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission sued the NFL charging antitrust violations, the NFL sued the Raiders charging breach of contract, Raider season ticket holders filed a class-action lawsuit, and the City of Oakland filed for eminent domain of the team.[3]

In May 1982, a jury ruled that the NFL had violated antitrust law by attempting to prevent the move. In April 1983, a separate jury awarded the Raiders $35 million in damages.[3]

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