Fans-Raiders Reunion: Historic Day For Allegiant Stadium As NFL Franchise Welcomes Raider Nation Into Venue To Watch Game For First Time Today
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
It’s highly anticipated, as they say, a reunion of sorts. Raider Nation and the players.
No Raiders fans were allowed to attend any of the eight home games at Allegiant Stadium during the franchise’s inaugural season in Las Vegas in 2020.
It all changes today when 65,000 fans find their way to the domed, black-veneer stadium, pass through the turnstiles and pump up the volume during this historic day in Las Vegas. The Raiders play the Seattle Seahawks in the first game with fans in the stadium Saturday.
LVSportsBiz.com has documented it all from the start. Our dozen stadium moments:
ONE: On Nov. 13, 2017, LVSportsBiz.com was there for the groundbreaking.
TWO: Even during a COVID-19 pandemic when the Strip was shut down in April 2020, construction continued at the Raiders stadium site.
THREE: Back in August 2017, LVSportsBiz.com reported on a Laborers Local 872 picnic in North Las Vegas that celebrated the Raiders. Raiders fan/stadium tax supporter/Gov. Steve Sisolak made a cameo then.
FOUR: The Raiders had some key players to push the stadium financing and project to the finish line.
FIVE: LVSportsBiz was there when the stadium board and the Raiders signed the lease deal for the stadium.
SIX: LVSportsBiz.com reported on the stadium’s many sides.
SEVEN: Owner Mark Davis and former team president Badain thanked the late Sheldon Adelson for making the stadium happen and paying for the political lobbying that led to the stadium hotel room tax bill signed by former Gov. Brian Sandoval.
EIGHT: A year before the stadium was built, we checked out the construction site in July 2019.
NINE: In December 2017, Badain mentioned that Sisolak gave the negotiations between UNLV and the Raiders “a kick in the ass” to get the Raiders-UNLV use agreement done.
TEN: In 2020, the Raiders stadium was closed to fans. But LVSportsBiz.com took you on a tour of the main concourse.
ELEVEN: In November 2019. LVSportsBiz.com toured the inside of the stadium construction site.
TWELVE: There were no fans in the building, but the Raiders did defeat the New Orleans Saints, 34-24, in the first game on Sept. 21, 2020.
We are back today for the historic first Raiders game with fans inside Allegiant Stadium. Follow our coverage all day later.
