Finally, Raiders Play First Regular Season Home Game With (Vaccinated) Fans In Las Vegas On Monday Night Football
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By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
A year ago this big domed building hosted an NFL game. On Monday Night Football to start the 2020 season, the hometown Las Vegas Raiders, yes, “Las Vegas,” in front of Raiders, upset a team that would make the NFL playoffs, the New Orleans Saints.
But there were no fans. And there was no ribbon-cutting for this $2 billion stadium project last year.
Life is still dominated by the virus. But this year the fans are back. And in a historic twist for the NFL, fans attending tonight’s Raiders vs Baltimore Ravens Monday Night Football game must be vaccinated against the COVID-19 coronavirus, which has killed 650,000 Americans. It’s the first Raiders home game with fans at Allegiant Stadium, a venue that Southern Nevada helped build to the public financial tune of $750 million.
The harsh truth is that the Raiders franchise has not been very successful in the win-loss department since 2003.
The team has achieved one lone season (2016) when it won more than it lost. But the Raiders brand was forged during a time in the 1970s and 1980s when rebellious characters wore the silver and black and won three NFL titles. It created a legion of fans who now are in their 50s and 60s and who still dress for games in crazy outfits, tailgate with the best of them around the NFL and bleed the team colors.
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Raiders owner Mark Davis owns more than the NFL team. He also bought the WNBA Las Vegas Aces, which defeated the Dallas Wings, 85-75, at a 12 noon game at nearby Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena
“It’s games day,” Davis cracked to LVSportsBiz.com’s Cassandra Cousineau, covering the Aces game today.
Cousineau reported: Aces coach Bill Laimbeer said, “Our goal is the second seed and get that double bye. We still control our own destiny and need to go out and win a road game now.”
Davis was now at the stadium, strolling on the field around 3:30PM and chatting at the Raiders bench area. He was wearing his familiar white jacket.
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Interesting observation:
Fans of all backgrounds attended:
Best headache-free way to reach the stadium. The RTC Raiders express bus.
Local radio show shot Brian Shapiro took the bus, too. His observations: “Easy access …cheap….on time….nice people assisting. Cheaper then gas let alone parking. You cant beat it”
Buy this book. Thank you.
