Raiders Remind Fans During Sunday’s Preseason Game On TV, Radio To Show COVID Vax Proof To Attend Games At Allegiant Stadium
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The Las Vegas Raiders have been very upfront about its position on the COVID-19 virus: show proof of vaccination or you will not pass through a turnstile at Allegiant Stadium starting with the team’s season-opener Sept. 13 when the Raiders host the Baltimore Ravens.
During the TV telecast of the Raiders-San Francisco 49ers game Sunday, the vaccination requirement for Raiders home games was hyped in a commercial.
Even Raiders radio broadcaster Brent Musburger took time between plays to remind fans that if they sell their Raiders home game tickets on the secondary market, the buyers of that ticket must also show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Raiders owner Mark Davis said it was impossible for stadium security and ushers to police the local indoor mask mandate because so many people were not complying at events at the stadium, which began having full-capacity events only last month.
So, if you show proof of vaccination via a CLEAR app, then you will not have to wear a mask inside Allegiant Stadium for Raiders home games.
What’s interesting is that for the first time ever in Las Vegas, fans will be able to attend Raiders and Vegas Golden Knights home games on the same exact date. On Sept. 26, in less than a month, the Raiders will host the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium at 1 PM and the Golden Knights will host the San Jose Sharks in a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena at 7PM.
While Davis is the first NFL owner to require home game attendees to show proof of COVID vaccination, the Golden Knights and their owner, Bill Foley, offered this written statement: “We are aware of the recent announcements from the Governor regarding large venues and possible vaccination requirements. We will continue to follow the applicable guidance and recommendations from state and local health officials, the National Hockey League and the CDC. If any adjustments are made to our existing fan policies, we will communicate those changes once confirmed.”
Davis, a Chico State graduate from California who grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, and Foley, a West Point graduate who grew up in Texas, are a study in contrasts.
And they have taken different approaches — so far — in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has intensified because so many people are not vaccinated and not wearing masks amid the spread of a very contagious Delta variant.
You might recall back in February that Foley complained about Clark County limiting capacity to 15 percent at T-Mobile Arena for VGK home games when fans were first allowed to attend games.
Davis said if all fans can’t attend Raiders home games at Allegiant Stadium in 2020, then none would and he lived with the fact that not a single fan went to a Raiders home game during the franchise’s inaugural season in Las Vegas.
After the Raiders won their first two preseason games this month, including last weekend’s 17-16 win over the LA Rams in Los Angeles, the team dropped the preseason final to the San Francisco 49ers, 34-10, at Levi’s Stadium today.
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