Raiders owner Mark Davis chatting with Gov. Steve Sisolak
Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Man, it was a football bro-fest at Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road in the middle of the busiest intersection on the famed Strip in Las Vegas.
On a stage literally in the center of the crossroads, there was NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hanging with Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, Raiders owner Mark Davis, LVCVA CEO Steve Hill and Clark County Commission Chairman Jim Gibson to officially kick off the 2022 NFL Draft in the heart of the Strip.
“It’s hard work shutting down the Strip for a press conference,” cracked Hill, who opened the outdoor press session in the shadow of Caesars and the Bellagio.
Our LVSportsBiz.com interview with Sisolak:
With a crowd of fans wearing logo swag from teams around the country lining the barriers in the middle of the intersection, Goodell drew his now-common round of boos when his name was mentioned.
It’s the NFL’s annual player draft event that the league has also turned into a festival to celebrate, market and amplify the NFL brand.
Sisolak the governor is a big Raiders fan who was a major political ally of the NFL team to get a $2 billion domed stadium built for the franchise.
LVSportsBiz,.com also caught up with Raiders President Dan Ventrelle for this interview:
The dudes even broke out a “Draft Drive” sign for the closed section of Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the Bellagio and the Flamingo intersection.
It’s unclear how many people will be showing up for this Woodstock of NFL football these three days. There are concerts, autograph sessions and an NFL Experience interactive program for fans with the “Draft Theater” behind the High Roller Observation Wheel and the red carpet walk on a platform stage built into the Bellagio Fountains on the closed Strip.
The NFL and ESPN networks are giving incredible free publicity to Las Vegas with aerial footage of the Fountains and the Strip. Las Vegas’ tourism agency is paying $3 million to help put on the event, but it’s getting free advertising via the TV coverage of the event.
PSA