The last time the 49ers served as the Bay Area's lone NFL team, they basked in a dynasty that produced their five Super Bowl championships.
Could another Raiders exit spark another 49ers resurgence, now that the Raiders won approval Monday to move from Oakland to Las Vegas by 2020?
"Part of me says I think it's good for us," 49ers general manager John Lynch told the NFL Network from the owners meetings in Phoenix. "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."
When the Raiders last skipped town, the 49ers were the NFL's defending champions for the first time ever, back in 1982.
When the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995, the 49ers were defending their fifth _ and last _ Lombardi Trophy.
A reminder of those glory years is a welcome respite after recent seasons for the 49ers. They are coming off arguably the worst season in their 71-year history: a 2-14 campaign doomed by a franchise-record 13-game losing streak. That season led to the exits of general manager Trent Baalke, coach Chip Kelly and quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who remains a free agent.
How good were the 49ers the last time the Raiders found refuge outside the Bay Area? Good enough to win four Super Bowls, 10 of 13 NFC West titles, and at least 10 games each season after the strike-shortened 1982 year, in which they went 3-6.
Lynch was sympathetic, drawing from his own feelings having grown up and lived in San Diego, which two months ago lost the Chargers to a Los Angeles relocation.
"I live in San Diego and know what a community goes through. It's fresh and there's a lot of emotion that goes into this," Lynch said. "That's become a fabric of who they are as a family. I grew up a Charger fan. I used to go. We were season ticket holders. So it hurt me before I was doing this and still now, I'm a Charger fan. And so that hurts.
"First of all, I empathize with the people of Oakland because I know what you're going through and it's not easy," Lynch added. "I'm sure there's a lot of anger and all that. I think the owners did what they felt was best for the league."
Could a Raiders-free neighborhood entice fans to change allegiances to the 49ers? Not those who showed up Monday at the Raiders' Alameda facility to mourn the relocation news.
"I never will. I'd quit watching football first," said Juan Gudino, 30, of San Leandro.
"I'd give up football and go to soccer instead," added Rolando Maravilla, 27, of Oakland.
Donald Waltz, 47, of Castro Valley, simply said: "No, I'm not going to root for the Niners."
