Twenty Years Plus Of Silver & Black Futility, Yet Raiders Fans Keep Coming Back For The Losses. Why? On Sunday They Celebrate A Win: Raiders 27 Chargers 20
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher/Writer
Wayne Mabry is a pleasant retired construction worker living about a half-hour outside of Victorville, California, a 66-year-old Raiders season ticket holder for nearly four decades.
But most folks know Mabry as the Raiders superfan “Violator,” who has a spot in the Wynn club area behind the north end zone, opposite the Vegas-style “Black Hole” at the opposite end of the Las Vegas Raiders gridiron at Allegiant Stadium.
The Raiders have struggled this season, losing seven of 11 games entering a division showdown with the Chargers at Allegiant Stadium Sunday and failing to win a single postseason game in more than two decades.
Even today’s game began on a sour note when the Chargers intercepted Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in the first quarter on an attempted pass to receiver Mack Hollins and scored on the pick-6.
The losses and losing seasons pile up and yet Raider fans spend thousands of dollars annually to travel to Las Vegas and attend games. In fact, the Raiders generated more than $153 million in annual ticket revenues, leading the NFL.
We asked Mabry why fans open their wallets to pay so much for a team that has had one of the worst records over the last 20 years.
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LVSportsBiz.com spoke with Parking Lot Jack, who cited loyalty and obsession as the two main qualities behind fans who renew the ritual known as Raiders games.
Raiders owner Mark Davis is aware of the commitment displayed by fans, who paid a total of nearly $550 million in personal seat license dollars just to have the right to buy a ticket to a Raiders game in Las Vegas.
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At halftime, the Chargers led the Raiders, 13-10.
In the third quarter, Carr came out rocking with his former Fresno State pal, Davante Adams, throwing two touchdown passes of 31 and 45 yards after halftime.
Ol’ reliable Daniel Carlson booted a short 25-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for a Raiders 27-13 lead before Chargers flamethrowing QB Justin Herbert fired a 35-yard TD pass to Keenan Allen to cut the Las Vegas lead to 27-20 with 8:34 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders defense held. Josh Jacobs ran strong again. The mini-Beast Mode ripped through the Chargers defense for 144 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown. Adams caught eight balls for 177 yards for two touchdowns.
They wrapped up a 27-20 win to win their third straight game to improve to 5 wins and 7 losses heading into a Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Rams.
“Hard fought win,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said after the game. For Thursday’s game, McDaniels noted, “We’re going to cram. They’re going to cram.”
If the Raiders defeat the Rams Thursday, they will have the same exact record after 13 games that they had in 2021 — 6-7.
