The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional football team in the NFL, currently playing in the West Division of the American Football Conference (AFC). Originally established as the Oakland Raiders in 1960, the team has undergone multiple relocations, playing in Los Angeles for a decade and then returning to Oakland before moving to Las Vegas in 2020.

Meaning and History

Founded in Oakland, California, the Raiders were initially named the Oakland Señors as a tribute to the city's Hispanic population. After facing ridicule over the name, it was changed to Raiders. Over the years, the team has built a strong legacy, with three Super Bowl victories (1976, 1980, 1983) and a history of notable figures, most prominently Al Davis. Davis, who coached and then owned the team from 1972 until his passing in 2011, played a significant role in shaping the Raiders into an NFL powerhouse. His influence was so profound that he is the only person in NFL history to have served as a coach, general manager, commissioner, and owner.

Another key figure in the Raiders' history is John Madden, who coached the team to its first championship and remains an iconic name in NFL history. Though the Raiders' performance fluctuated after Davis's death, the team's fortunes shifted again in 2018 with the hiring of Jon Gruden, whose second stint ended controversially in 2021 due to offensive emails being exposed.

Logo Evolution

The Raiders' logo has seen relatively few changes since its introduction in 1960, which speaks to the strength of its visual identity.

• 1960-1962: The first logo featured a pirate wearing a football helmet, depicted on a golden football with crossed sabers behind it. The design was black-and-white, emphasizing simplicity and strength.
• 1963: The logo was redesigned into a horizontal crest in black and gray, with the pirate's face and two sabers. The wordmark "The Oakland Raiders" appeared in a classic typeface.
• 1964-1981: The crest became solid black with a white "Raiders" wordmark above the pirate's face. The pirate's helmet changed to gray with a black stripe, and the sabers became shorter.
• 1982-1995: With the Raiders' move to Los Angeles, the logo remained unchanged, maintaining its bold, powerful aesthetic.
• 1995-2020: The Raiders returned to Oakland but kept the same logo, which had by then become iconic and widely recognized.
• 2020-Present: Upon moving to Las Vegas, the logo was refined slightly. The pirate’s helmet was darkened, and the shield was outlined with a thicker white frame. Despite these minor tweaks, the overall design stayed true to its roots.

Font and Colors

The Raiders' wordmark uses a bold, geometric sans-serif typeface, with the closest match being Futura W1G Extra Bold or Futura BT Pro Extra Black. This clean and strong font complements the team's powerful image.

The color scheme is minimalist but striking, with a combination of:

• Black (Pantone PMS Black 6 C, Hex #000000)
• Gray (Pantone PMS 8180 C, Hex #A5ACAF)
• White (Hex #FFFFFF)

These colors have been consistent since the team's inception and reflect the Raiders' tough, no-nonsense persona.

Helmets and Uniforms

The Raiders' helmets are silver with a black-gray-white crest featuring the pirate's face, making them instantly recognizable. The team’s uniforms come in two primary options:

1. A black jersey with silver numbers and black pants with minimalistic silver stripes.
2. A white jersey with black numbers and gray pants, keeping the overall look simple yet distinctive.

Allegiant Stadium

Since relocating to Las Vegas in 2020, the Raiders play at Allegiant Stadium, which opened in July 2020. The stadium has a seating capacity of 65,000 and can expand to 71,835. It serves as the home for the Raiders as well as the Las Vegas Bowl.

Despite moving locations and facing various challenges, the Las Vegas Raiders have maintained a strong, consistent brand identity, with their iconic pirate logo and powerful color scheme standing as symbols of toughness and resilience in the NFL.