By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Lamar Advertising of Las Vegas has been advised to not advertise cannabis products on the digital billboards at Allegiant Stadium, LVSportsBiz.com has learned.
Lamar Advertising, which says on its website it runs nine billboards around the stadium perimeter and along “highways leading to and from the airport and California,” has the inventory of digital billboard signs at the domed stadium site on the west side of Interstate 15 across from Mandalay Bay.
The digital signage advertises businesses in an attempt to reach football fans, local commuters and interstate travelers. Lamar uses the digital billboard displays for general advertising and a large on-premise digital marquee unit for exclusive use by Allegiant Stadium and the Raiders.
LVSportsBiz.com reached out to Lamar, the Raiders and the stadium for comment, but we have not heard back. If we receive any statements, we shall include them in this story.
Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom theorized that because the stadium is officially owned by a public entity, the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, marijuana products are not legally allowed to be advertised at the site. Segerblom mused that public dollars for schools are being lost because marijuana cannot be advertised on those billboards at the Raiders stadium location.
LVSportsBiz.com inquired with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority to see if the state bill that created the stadium funding or the lease deal with the Raiders, or “StadCo,” prohibited advertising cannabis at the stadium or the site.
“The terms for advertising on the stadium site are covered in Section 14.5 of the Lease Agreement. In general, StadCo has discretion to select advertisers with some limitations. Those limitations do not specifically include cannabis,” said Brian Haynes of Las Vegas-based Applied Analysis, the private consultant for the stadium authority board.
LVSportsBiz.com checked out the Nevada cannabis regulations and they prohibit advertising, “At a sports event to which persons who are less than 21 years of age are allowed entry.” That could be the key clue about why cannabis cannot be advertised at the Raiders stadium site because there are fans who are younger than 21 attending games and events there.
It’s a common sight around metro Las Vegas to see billboards and signs advertising marijuana products and dispensaries.
In fact, former Raiders players like Frank Hawkins and Marshawn Lynch sell cannabis products.
PSA