Nevada Craft Brewers Want More Serving Taps At Allegiant Stadium, Request Beer-Selling Presence At Planned A’s Baseball Stadium On Strip
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — An association of Nevada craft breweries says the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium have “violated the spirit of the community benefits agreement” with the Las Vegas community by having less than one percent of the beer taps in the stadium serving Nevada craft beer.
Linda Lovelady, co-owner of Henderson-based Lovelady Brewing and legislative chairperson of the Nevada Craft Brewers Association, appeared before the Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board last year to make that argument.
And just a few days ago Lovelady Brewing hosted an Athletics season-opener watch party to not only support the A’s coming to Las Vegas in 2028 but also establish business relations with the A’s so that local craft beers have a bigger presence at the planned A’s stadium on the Strip than what they have at Raiders-run Allegiant Stadium.
Lovelady told LVSportsBiz.com, “the first paragraph of the Community Benefits Plan for Allegiant Stadium states the plan was developed ‘to ensure the greatest possible participation by all segments of the local community in the economic opportunities available in connection with the design, construction, and operation’ of the stadium.
“The reality is that the Nevada craft beer industry has been virtually shut out of Allegiant. My understanding is that Allegiant Stadium has approximately 1,100 beer tap handles. However, Nevada craft beer is served on less than one percent of these taps. How is this the greatest possible participation in the operation of the stadium for the Nevada craft beer industry?”
Lovelady acknowledged there are local craft beers sold at Allegiant Stadium. She said she’s aware of Able Baker Brewing, Big Dog’s Brewing Company, CraftHaus Brewery and Lovelady Brewing being sold at the Raiders stadium.
But the problem, she said, is that those beers are hard to find at the venue because there are so few taps pouring Nevada craft beers.
“Right now, someone attending an event at Allegiant basically has to commit to an ‘Easter egg hunt’ to purchase a local, Nevada craft beer. I would love to see the majority of the beer concession stands have one or two taps with Nevada craft beer with tap handles and menu signage so customers know supporting locals is an option,” said Lovelady. She, along with her husband, his brothers and her son, opened their brewery Apr. 1, 2016.
LVSportsBiz.com contacted the Raiders about the issues raised by the Nevada Craft Brewers Association. If we hear back from the Raiders, we will include their response. Southern Nevada contributed $750 million in public money to help the Raiders build Allegiant Stadium, which opened in 2020. Keep in mind the Raiders have major sponsorship deals with beer companies like Modelo.
Lovelady grew up in Oakland as an A’s fan, so she enjoyed hosting the A’s season-opener watch party at her brewery Thursday. But Lovelady and other Nevada craft breweries also wanted to get the attention of new A’s president Marc Badain and get on the ground floor with the A’s stadium construction process to make sure the team and venue know about local brewers’ interest in selling their beers at the $1.75 billion domed ballpark at the former Tropicana hotel-casino site on the Strip.
The A’s hope to have a groundbreaking during the next three months in the second quarter of 2025. The A’s are building a ballpark with a capacity of 33,000, with the public on the hook for $380 million. The A’s say they expect to use $350 million of the public assistance. The A’s open their home schedule today at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento with the Chicago Cubs visiting the minor league ballpark. The A’s are using the stadium of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats (SF Giants affiliate) for 2025, 2026 and 2027 while the stadium in Las Vegas is built for 2028.
LVSportsBiz.com discussed the issues with Lovelady, who elaborated on her points:
• Nevada craft brewers produce award winning beers. Nevada breweries have won awards from the Great American Beerfest, the World Beer Cup and the Australian International Beer Awards – just to name a few. By offering craft beer made in Nevada the stadium or ballpark is showing its pride in our local product.
• Locals want to support local. By offering craft beer made in Nevada, the stadium or ballpark is helping to build a stronger Nevada community.
• Las Vegas is a tourist mecca. Tourists seek out unique adventures and flavors they cannot find at home. By offering craft beer made in Nevada, the stadium or ballpark is enhancing the tourists’ experience.
