By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
This is as close as you can get to watching the Las Vegas Raiders play an NFL game at new Allegiant Stadium.
Pay $400 for a parking space and some coronavirus distance pavement to tailgate outside the palatial domed football playground that cost $2 billion.
The Raiders sold the $400 deals — $500 for a VIP deal that gave you a front-row parking space in front of an outdoor screen — for the first time a week ago when Las Vegas played an away game in New England.
But this is the first tailgate deal for a Raiders home here in Las Vegas, where fans are not allowed to attend Raiders games in the 65,000-seat venue on the west side of Interstate 15 across from Mandalay Bay hotel-casino. Raiders owner Mark Davis said his new stadium is off-limits to fans during the novel coronavirus pandemic era because Davis said if all fans are not allowed in, then no fans will be allowed in.
So, fans are left with this — paying $400 for a parking lot space while watching the Raiders on a big outdoor screen about 100 yards away from the stadium where the Raiders are playing inside. Today it’s the Raiders (2-1) hosting the Buffalo Bills (3-0).
The tailgating parking lot didn’t open until 11:30 a.m. or 11:45 a.m. or so, but that was fine for Omar Vivas, who came with his wife, Elena; sister, Nancy Esparza; and brother, Charles Esparza from Palm Springs, California.
Omar Vivas said it cost about $800 for fuel, hotel rooms and food like steaks and shrimp — plus the $400 fee charged by the Raiders for the tailgating spot.
Naturally, it’s a much different vibe than the massive tailgating scenes outside the Coliseum in Oakland, but the Raiders’ new tailgating parking lot is still enjoyable, Vivas said.
“It’s smaller but COVID safe,” Vivas observed while waiting to get in the parking lot amid unusually hot conditions in Las Vegas.
Workers scanned the tailgaters’ tickets and took their temperatures. The fans then picked up their Raiders bag of hot dogs, nachos and drinks before heading into the parking lot, which is on the north side of the stadium.
The Raiders said 65 vehicles came a week ago for the Tailgate Zone deal to watch the Raiders play the Patriots in New England on the big screen.
It looked like a similar-sized crowd was ready to descend on the Raiders’ Tailgate Zone today.