Raiders Minority Owner Tom Brady, Saudi Arabia Sports Promoter Turki Alalshikh Announce Global Flag Football Deal For Riyadh in March 2026
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Rob Gronkowski went out for a pass on the Raiders grass field this afternoon and his ol’ pal, Tom Brady, took off his sports coat and tossed a football to his former New England Patriots teammate.
Just like old times for the two buddies before today’s Raiders-Chargers Monday Night Football game at Allegiant Stadium.
Brady, now a minority Raiders owner, and the loosey-goosey Gronkowski were back together because the duo will be playing in the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic competition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia March 21.
Brady signed the lucrative deal with Saudi Arabia sports promoter Turki Alalshikh to stage the flag football event, with Brady and Gronk playing in the five-on-five Olympic flag football format. The National Football League has been a big backer of flag football as a marketing tool to grow the sport, with the Raiders here in metro Las Vegas supporting girls flag football programs at the high school level.
Officially speaking, Brady, Fanatics, FOX Sports and OBB Media are teaming up to put on the flag football event at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Not only are Brady and Gronkowski playing, other current NFLers like Raiders’ Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers, Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey will be participating. Even Raiders head coach Pete Carroll will be one of three NFL coaches who signed up.
Alalshikh was here in Allegiant Stadium for the Canelo vs Crawford boxing match that had an announced crowd of more than 70,000 Saturday. Alalshikh was a promoter of that sports event, too, with UFC President and Bossman Dana White, who also promoted the fight under the Zuffa Boxing and TKO Group Holdings banner.
