After Pittsburgh Steelers fans stormed the Raiders facility known as "Allegiant Stadium" this past weekend, it became clear there is no home field advantage in Las Vegas. NFL fans are planning vacations around their teams' Allegiant Stadium game. They're coming in droves to Allegiant Stadium to fraternize with fellow team fans and likely celebrate a 'Viva Las Vegas' visitor's road victory.
In hindsight it looks like everyone, but true Raiders fans, got what they wanted out of the teams' relocation. City of Las Vegas got a huge tourist draw along with gambling and entertainment hype. NFL got their brand featured in a high traffic tourist location. Casinos can addict unsuspecting new gambler prospects; Got A Gambling Problem - Call "Gambler's Anonymous."
And Raiders owner Mark Davis is basking in the glory of financial success as he saw his teams' valuation increase 22% over the course of one season. That is third highest annual increase in the league. In that same year the Raiders are sixth highest valued organization, second highest revenue generated, and second lowest operating income. It all adds up to . . . Mo' Money, Mo' Money, Mo' Money!
Pro Football fans are flocking to Vegas to spend and loving every minute of it. Where else but Vegas can they gamble, drink, eat, dance, concert watch, and find sexual healing in abundance. Party time for these visiting sports fans began way before kickoff and Win, Lose or Tie, will continue non-stop until their return home.
Meanwhile, Raiders fans who go to Vegas to watch the silver and black are appalled to sit in Allegiant Stadium outnumbered by screaming visiting team fans. Not only are they outnumbered as fans in what should be homefield advantage, but the visiting opponent is playing inspired football thanks in part to their fans' participation, or lack of Raiders fans participation.
In Sunday's loss to the Steelers, it was obvious how overwhelming the visiting fans were at Allegiant Stadium. Granted, Steelers fans travel well, one of the best fan bases in Pro football. But this is supposed to be home of Silver & Black, face-painted fans ready to intimidate and demand respect, blacking-out the stadium. Nowadays, Raiders fans visiting the so-called "Death Star" are going into a roaring lion's den, and the lions are wearing opponents' colors.
Can a winning Raiders team correct all this and change the current homefield culture? Maybe, maybe not. Raiders season ticket holders seem more satisfied in recouping ticket fees via selling to visiting fans, than witnessing Silver & Black embarrassment and humiliation both on the field and in the stands. Maybe we can just blame the economy.
If the old saying of "Money being the root of all evil" carries any weight, then perhaps it is also the root that rots and dries up a once proud and participating fan base. Some things do change, and not always for the better.
How the Las Vegas Raiders Sold Out Their Home-Field Advantage - The Messenger
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