By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The Raiders’ first game in their new Las Vegas stadium worked out well Sept. 21.
Not so much in the second game in the Raiders’ new market here in Las Vegas.
The exciting Buffalo Bills, led by emerging star quarterback Josh Allen, scored on their first possession of the game and went on to defeat the Raiders, 30-23. The Raiders trailed by a mere point, 17-16, in the third quarter and even had the ball with a chance to move ahead. But Buffalo held and went on to polish off Las Vegas in the fourth quarter.
The Bills are 4-0, while the Raiders dropped their second game and stand at 2-2.
During these novel coronavirus times when COVID-19 outbreaks can lead to postponed and cancelled games in any sport, I suppose it’s a victory just to play a game. The Tennessee Titans saw their game moved when that team suffered an outbreak of players testing positive for the coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of 210,000 Americans. Even the president is infected with the novel coronavirus.
During games, the domed stadium is generally quiet with the exception of music, the press box announcer and players’ cheers. The piped in crowd noise you hear on TV is not playing inside the venue.
In response to positive coronavirus tests, the NFL made these schedule changes:
At Allegiant Stadium, the COVID-19 protocol signs are everywhere. They’re in elevators.
Even the scoreboard conveys the protocol messages.
The Raiders drew some bad publicity when players were seen not wearing masks last week at a fund-raiser held by tight end Darren Waller.
And even at Sunday’s game, there was this staffer not wearing a mask.
Carnell “Silver Pipes” Johnson, who sings the national anthem many times before Vegas Golden Knights games as Carnell “Golden Pipes” Johnson, did not sing the anthem before the Bills-Raiders game after singing the anthem before the inaugural Raiders home game on Monday Night Football Sept. 21. Instead, Whitney Houston’s historic anthem at Super Bowl 25.
Another VGK game entertainment standout, Jake Wagner, was on DJ duty at halftime today.