I think the Oilers and their history should have stayed with Houston. It still blows my mind that the Browns had the foresight to see this coming, but we are obtuse, and here we are.
It's a very interesting comparison. Reading the Browns
wiki is revealing.
I did not realize that the day after Modell announced the move, Cleveland voters overwhelmingly approved $175 million in tax dollars to refurbish old Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
They filed over 100 lawsuits against Modell. Actor Drew Cary held a "Fan Jam" to protest the move. Rival Steelers fans joined in to protest, actually holding a protest during during a Browns game in Pittsburgh that the media refused to cover. Advertisers pulled out, fans pulled stadium chairs out and threw them on the field during the last game, and the stadium was trashed in protest.
The NFL, Browns franchise, and both cities pounded out a legal settlement to keep the name and history with the city. An expansion team was basically guaranteed at that point, and it was just a matter of building a new stadium.
On the flip side, Houston Oilers fans....yawned, I guess.
As far as TK's question, I'm not one to live in the past. History is what it is.
I would have liked the Oilers to have stayed here. Regardless of what people think of the history and Bud, the fact of the matter is that many of us over 30-somethings love pro football because of the Houston Oilers. It would have been fun to celebrate the 50th anniversary, especially the Luv Ya Blue years.
But, reality is different, and that is that. One day the Texans will be something more than an entertainment company, and the history of the Oilers will continue to fade with us 'old-timers'. Sooner would be better, but there's nothing we can do about that right now. Just wait it out and wear red on battle-red day and white on white-out day and shake yer pom poms hard.