Raider Nation is the official name for the fans of theNational Football League (NFL)'sLas Vegas Raiders (formerly theOakland Raiders and theLos Angeles Raiders). Fan Jim Hudson coined the term in the 1990s when the Raiders returned to Oakland after a long hiatus in Los Angeles, thus becoming a team with a regional fanbase.[1]
The team's fans devotion is chronicled inBetter to Reign in Hell, a book written bySan Diego English professor Jim Miller[2] and Kelly Mayhew, who are Raiders fans.
The city ofOakland's working-class background and "underdog status" compared to its neighboring city ofSan Francisco is cited as the foundation of the Raider Nation and its image, as is the influence of "outlaws" such as ownerAl Davis and players likeTed Hendricks,John Matuszak,Bob Brown,Ken Stabler,Jack Tatum, andLyle Alzado in creating a bad boy image. The team's aggressive style of play during the 1970s and 1980s,[3] when the Raiders won their threeSuper Bowls, is also mentioned. This perception did not change when the Raiders moved to Los Angeles, but the move did diversify their fan base to include moreLatinos andAfrican Americans, and the Raiders would become increasingly associated withWest Coastgangsta rap groups likeN.W.A,Compton's Most Wanted andCypress Hill during this period. Multipleheavy metal bands would also express their support for the team, includingMetallica,Slayer,Testament,Machine Head, andMegadeth. This association would lead to the Raider Nation to grow a reputation as a gritty, intimidating notoriety amongst fans and celebrities alike; spreading across the country as fans express their longtime devotion to the team.
Members of Raider Nation take pride in their image, and many of the most devoted Raiders fans dress up in elaborate costumes on game day. Many of these costumes are intended to be intimidating and eccentric while also adhering to the Raiders' silver and black color scheme, and many fans also create alter egos for these characters as well. These fans are typically the ones that are most associated with the Raider Nation and The Black Hole. Actress and singerNaya Rivera was a notable fan; her brotherMychal played tight end for the team between 2013 and 2016. RapperIce Cube is one of the Raiders' best known fans, having been a vocal supporter since the 1980s He has written songs about the team and has appeared in many videos promoting the team.[4]
"The Autumn Wind", first released in 1974, has become thefight song of Raider Nation and can be heard aloud at every game.
