No Fans At Raiders Games In New Las Vegas Stadium This Season, But They Are Getting In Venue To Check Out Team Store
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Sure, the Al Davis memorial torch is on display inside the giant domed stadium. And Raiders owner Mark Davis gave a speech in the new Raiders palace last month calling the palatial venue, “The Death Star.” Plus, quarterback Derek Carr and his teammates have already practiced twice inside the building with the black, glassy veneer and retractable playing field off Interstate 15 across from Mandalay Bay.
But you know it’s really game week — and not just any home game, it’s the inaugural football game at Allegiant Stadium — when Las Vegas Raiders superfan Pati McGaffigan shows up at the stadium.
There she was Thursday mid-day, waiting in line with other Raiders fans to get a look inside the Raider Image team store in the $2 billion high-tech sports playground where the Las Vegas Raiders host the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.
The team store in the stadium opened Wednesday, drawing long lines and more fans today. It’s open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The stadium is cashless so bring a credit or debit card. Cash not accepted.
McGaffigan is known as “The Maska Raider,” a persona she has played since 2007 when she picked up a silver and black mask in Hawaii. McGaffigan was born in Oakland, after all, and raised in Honolulu before she fell under the spell of old time Raiders like Daryle Lamonica and Freddie Biletnikoff in 1967.
Little did she know how newsworthy the “mask” part of her name would be in 2020, when a novel coronavirus that has claimed the lives of nearly 200,00 Americans would cause Davis to keep the stadium off-limits to fans for Raiders home games during the inaugural season in Las Vegas.
So, fans were happy to get a peek inside the stadium, which was was built with $750 million of public money from Southern Nevada. It’s a record public subsidy to help build an NFL stadium.
The Raiders also told season ticket holders that the Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board voted Thursday to extend the Raiders’ Stadium Lease for an additional year. The one-year extension will give all person seat license holders a full 30 years on their seat license beginning with the 2021 season.
“No further action is required on your part. The additional year automatically will be added to your PSL contract at Allegiant Stadium,” the Raiders told season ticket holders today.
And today’s Jon Gruden’s quote of the day is here:
Q: What went through your mind when you heard Owner Mark Davis said, ‘Welcome to the Death Star, where our opponents’ dreams come to die?’
Coach Gruden: What went through my mind didn’t go through your mind, obviously. I think it’s a cool name for our stadium, I don’t give damn about Star Wars. That’s what we’re calling our stadium and I don’t care what anybody else thinks. It’s a cool stadium, it’s a great name and we just have to play good when we’re in there.
The Raiders did have a few announcements this week to perk up fans — especially those who like to place a wager.
BetMGM, the joint venture between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and GVC International (LSE: GVC), and the Raiders announced Thursday that BetMGM is now “An Official Sports Betting Partner of the Raiders.” The partnership is an extension of an existing multi-year partnership with MGM Resorts and the Raiders, which was reported by LVSportsBiz in January.
“We are pleased to add BetMGM to the MGM Resorts partnership portfolio,” Raiders President Marc Badain said. “The addition of BetMGM will open new levels of engagement for Raiders fans and guests of Allegiant Stadium.”
Adding a strong dose of Las Vegas flavor at Monday’s game will be The Killers, the Vegas band that will play at halftime from the Caesars Palace roof.
“The Raiders really wanted to pay homage to our new hometown so naturally we were ecstatic to partner with an iconic Las Vegas band like The Killers on this once-in-a-lifetime performance,” Badain said. “While fans can’t be with us in person, we hope this exciting halftime show gives those at home a taste of the exceptional entertainment experience awaiting them at future games and events at Allegiant Stadium.”
Just because you can’t attend a Raiders game, you can eat game food. Here’s a $50 deal the Raiders are offering their season ticket holders.
Some NFL news:
Follow LVSportsBiz.com on Twitter and Instagram. Like LVSportsBiz.com on Facebook. Buy Alan Snel’s new book Bicycle Man: Life of Journeys.
