Las Vegas Raiders: Can Allegiant Stadium become the Staples Center of the NFL?
By Kenny King
The Las Vegas Raiders finally welcomed fans into beautiful Allegiant Stadium in Week 1, and the stars certainly came out for the event.
On Monday, September 13, the Las Vegas Raiders hosted the very first Monday Night Football game in front of fans at Allegiant Stadium. The star-studded event drew in nearly 62,000 fans and brought in another 15.3 million viewers, the highest since 2013.
As the halls of Allegiant Stadium echoed with the chants of Raider Nation, the action on the field was equally electric. The Raiders revamped defense under Gus Bradley, the dominance of Maxx Crosby, and the 4th quarter comeback of Derek Carr propelled the team to a 33-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
While the stars shined on the field, the stadium was filled with celebrities as well.
Las Vegas has always been a town of bright lights, over-the-top productions, and stars and Monday Night Football didn’t disappoint. The Raiders welcomed fans into Allegiant Stadium with the legendary Steve Aoki on the turntables and Bruce Buffer on the mic.
Raiders game brings out the celebrities
In the stands were everyone from George Lopez, to the Vegas Golden Knights, further proving that Las Vegas is still the entertainment capital of the world. In the Wynn club, a lucky fan got to take shots with Lil Jon, and adorning the sidelines were Bohnes and Josephine Skriver, Raider Nation’s incumbent power couple.
Recently, Raiders owner Mark Davis acquired the Las Vegas Aces WNBA team, and star A’ja Wilson is all in on the Silver and Black.
The Halftime show pulled no stops, with the President of Raider Nation, Ice Cube performing with Oakland rap legend Too Short along with the help of the house band accompanied by the blinking lights of nearly 62,000 fans.
The Raiders and Allegiant Stadium have the ability to continue to create an atmosphere that attracts massive crowds and celebrities with a powerful offense and a defense that doesn’t quit much like their former neighbors the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers are synonymous with success, star power, and amazing in-game experience. Staples Center has become the mecca for many basketball fans and is a hotbed of action. If the Raiders can create success in Las Vegas, they can also create a Staples-Esque atmosphere at Allegiant Stadium for years to come.