The Black Hole lives — Bay Area Raiders fans as passionate as ever

NEWARK, Calif. — You might have heard the story. Maybe not.

Here it is: It was in 1995 when a few friends had sneaked down to Section 105 in the south end zone at the Oakland Coliseum during a Raiders game upon the team’s return to the Bay Area from Los Angeles.

They had discussed — inspired by the Cleveland Browns’ Dawg Pound fan base — creating a similar atmosphere at home games for their beloved silver and black.

But it took a long touchdown run by Napoleon Kaufman and subsequent jump into the stands — right into the arms of Rob Rivera — to really inspire what eventually became one of the most popular, not to mention theatrical, fan bases in all of sports.

The Black Hole was born.

“They wanted to make it bigger and bigger, to make sure everyone dressed in black,” said Rachel Rivera, Rob’s wife. “They wanted people in blimps to look down and see one big black hole. (Rob) was the global president from its inception until he took his last breath in September of 2021. Raider Nation and The Black Hole still come together. We have close to 50 chapters across the country and world now. It still runs deep in the Bay Area even though the team is in Las Vegas.

“We are still just as passionate. They might be the team that came and went more than once, but we’re loyal and proud. It’s a beautiful thing, people coming together for the love of the silver and black.”

Pub support

It’s a Sunday morning at O’Sullivan’s Sports Pub in this town 25 miles southeast of Oakland. This is where you will find members of the Bay Area chapter of The Black Hole, who congregate weekly to cheer on their Raiders.

There are no elaborate, terrifying costumes of chains and skulls and spikes and face paint, but Raiders jerseys dominate a popular fashion statement.

The team is playing at the New York Jets on this particular morning and facing former Las Vegas quarterback Geno Smith. That last part isn’t lost on those attending.

You won’t find them here, Raiders fans who lost their love and dedication to the franchise following its move to Allegiant Stadium and Southern Nevada in 2020. You won’t find those who couldn’t stomach the idea of the organization fleeing Oakland yet again, this time for good.

You will only discover a culture of passion and devotion, fans who grew up in the Bay Area and have followed and cheered for the Raiders their entire lives. True members of The Black Hole.

“There are friends of mine who became fans of other teams after the move,” said Fernando Sanchez, a season-ticket holder in Oakland from the time the team moved back from Los Angeles and now again in Las Vegas. “I have no idea how you can do that. I’ll be a Raiders fan until the day I die. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I couldn’t just change like I change my underwear every day. It’s about the camaraderie we have as fans.

“That’s what defines us even though we have been losing for (several years). Who knows — maybe we’ll win the rest of our games this season and go to the Super Bowl.”

Did we mention they’re a positive bunch?

“I think we’re going to be in the Super Bowl when Las Vegas hosts it (in 2029),” said Jose Torres, a Raiders fan for 42 years. “It’s going to happen, and we’re going to win it.”

Next up: 49ers

The cheers were loud at any sign of a positive play against the Jets, a game the Raiders would rally to win 38-33. They grew louder as the final seconds ticked away.

The customary “Raiders!” chants rang out throughout the pub.

And now comes a game at the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, a game against what could be the NFL’s best team this season. A game that will see the Raiders return to the Bay Area and one that will no doubt draw a packed house at O’Sullivan’s.

Ted Davis actually grew up a San Francisco fan in the days of Joe Montana but, as he puts it, went to the Dark Side in 1992 and held Raiders season tickets from 2002 until their move to Las Vegas.

“It’s about tradition,” Davis said. “Only two couples I know from the (Oakland days) have gone to games in Las Vegas. I don’t know — maybe it’s about money or their dislike for the team for moving. I said I’d never go to Las Vegas but was there for the first game after the COVID-19 (season). You just can’t shake it. I now make my way there for 3-4 games a year.

“That was then when they moved, and this is now. We don’t have the Oakland Coliseum and those crazy tailgates any more. But we have a beautiful stadium in (Allegiant), and the tradition is alive and well there.”

It’s Debbie Poquiz’s birthday, a Raiders fan since 1968 who talks about history and culture and how there will always be that feeling of loyalty when it comes to following the team.

Even though it left.

“My friend said it best: ‘When your husband cheats on you, you take him back because you love him,’” Poquiz said. “That’s how we feel about this team, win or lose. We’re a family, for better or worse. Every game means something. Like this one — we’re playing against Geno. That’s exciting. We always have that outlook.”

They want you to know there is more than cheering on the Raiders and hoping against hope the team will one day soon return to the game of Roman numerals. They want you to know about the blood drives and food drives and coat drives and turkey drives.

About serving the community and encouraging all their chapters to follow the Bay Area’s lead.

“Raiders fans have gotten a bad rap over the years, but we’re good people,” Rachel Rivera said. “We come from a wide range of experiences. We’ve got people in our chapter who are attorneys and teachers and medical professionals and those from the workforce. We all come together and try to bring out the best in our community. That’s what it’s all about.”

Andie Jordan is vice president of the Bay Area chapter and took her son to his first Raiders game when he was 7 weeks old. He’s 11 years old now and a die-hard.

Jordan had season tickets in Oakland and now in Las Vegas. Her plan is to one day pass them onto her son and then he to his children and hopefully build a family fan base for decades and decades to come.

“You have to have thick skin to be a Raiders fan,” she said. “You can’t be fair-weathered. We stay with them through-and-through. They’ve had their ups and downs, but we hang in there. Every season is going to be our year. We’re going to the Super Bowl every year. But, you know, they are getting better.”

Remembering Rob

You can tell the love for Rob Rivera remains strong. The co-founder of The Black Hole died from complications brought on by COVID-19, but his place as the one whose vision created such a fan base is never-ending.

“Rob lived for the Raiders,” said Rivera’s cousin, John Wayne. “He put everything into this. It was a full-time job for him. Words can’t even describe his fandom and what the team meant to him. Some (fans) might have fallen off when the team went to Las Vegas, but it’s still very strong here in the Bay Area. The love for it.

“And that would make him very proud and happy.”

And to think, it all began with one leap into the stands by a Raiders running back.

“My mission is to meet Mr. Kaufman and personally thank him,” Rachel Rivera said. “He not only changed the trajectory of my husband’s life but was the one who inspired The Black Hole for what it is today. Rob was a crazy visionary. This grew from a handful of guys barbecuing hot dogs and talking about what they could do for a global presence.

“We still have this thing going very strong.”

Man. Imagine if they ever really did return to the Super Bowl.

Contact Ed Graney at [email protected]. Follow @edgraney on X.