ONCE A RAIDER, ALWAYS A RAIDER

By: Dawn Gibbons

Raider’s fans are known to be devoted and passionate about their team, known to travel across the country, some setting up elaborate tailgating parties and all dressed in the team colors of black and silver.

As a lifetime supporter, Benny Romero is just one of the legions of great fans of the Raiders. He has been a die-hard Raiders fan since he was in the 6th grade. Now forty-six, he continues because ‘once a Raider, always a Raider.’ to Phoenix, AZ, and got his first season tickets. “I was in the 300 level, they called it ‘Mount Davis’ because of the location and I‘ve been a season ticket holder since. I would fly from Phoenix to Oakland for the games. One game I remember going to was when the Raiders played the Steelers. I saw that Steeler’s Jack Tatum was going to be signing autographs, so I went all over Phoenix to find his jersey to take to the game to be signed.”

Romero moved a few times, eventually landing in Reno, NV, but remained a loyal season ticket holder. Even though Romero holds season tickets, he doesn’t attend every out-of-town game. “It costs me about $600 to $700 a game including airfare, hotel, food, and the ride-share just to get to the stadium.”

Over the years, I moved around the stadium till I got the right seats for me and purchased the parking pass because tailgating is the best part of the gameday experience with friends and family. Those precious moments are unforgettable.” my son and daughter on her birthday. She had no idea that I had a surprise for her including a birthday cake and gifts. She was so happy and touched that she became emotional, as she was absolutely having a ball. At other games I took my cousin from Wisconsin, my brother from Utah and my uncle.

I was at the last game in Oakland and the first game in Vegas when they let fans in the stadium. The first regular season game in Vegas was on my birthday, a Monday, September 13, 2021, playing the Baltimore Ravens. The Raiders were the underdog but won in dramatic fashion in overtime. That day was the most memorable of all games to me!”

His team loyalty solidified after joining the Navy in 1999, watching star players like Rich Gannon, Charles Woodson, Tim Brown, and so many more. After his discharge from the Navy in 2006, he moved

Benny introduced many of his friends to their one and only professional NFL game. “I’ve had some unforgettable games that are personal to me. In December, I took

Benny’s Raider loyalty is unwavering even from a distance and his memories are cherished. “I’ve met some former Raiders like Kenny Stabler, Fred Biletnikoff, Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Jim Plunkett, Rod Martin, Willie Brown, Jerry Rice, Dave Casper, Ray Guy, and Ted Hendricks and more.” And going forward from season to season, Romero will add to his cache of memories dressed in the black and silver, hearing the loud and long chant of the crowd cheering on their beloved team, The Las Vegas Raiders. MV