National Football League

49ers general manager says Raiders fans should ‘come jump on our train’

Published Mar. 28, 2017 5:46 a.m. ET

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Nunzio Ingrassia

As Oakland Raiders fans mourned the news of their team getting NFL approval to leave for Las Vegas, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch tried to soften the blow – and possibly boost attendance at 49ers games.

While at the owners meetings Monday in Phoenix, Lynch was asked about the impact of the Raiders' move, which is expected to occur by 2020.

“Part of me says I think it’s good for us,” Lynch told the NFL Network, via the San Jose Mercury News. “Raider fans, we’re open for business. Come and jump on our train.

“But the Raiders are a great brand and I think it kind of transcends the location. I’m sure a lot of those people will go down to Vegas and have a good time supporting them in the future.”

Fans of the Silver and Black will probably continue to follow the team in Vegas but those who love the Bay Area might take Lynch up on his offer. The last time the 49ers had the Bay all to themselves was in 1994, when they were coming off their fifth Super Bowl title.

San Francisco currently is not close to those expectations, coming off a 2-14 campaign while Oakland is a legitimate threat in the AFC. Will the 49ers return to contention before the Raiders skip town? If that’s the goal, Lynch, who was hired earlier this year despite having no front office experience, has his work cut out for him.

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