Raiders Allegiant Stadium
Our Las Vegas Raiders have a new home – the swanky and stylish Allegiant Stadium! Built at the cost of $1.9 billion, the Allegiant Stadium is also called the “Death Star”. The Raiders played their first game in 2020 against the New Orleans Saints here at this venue. Allegiant Stadium is also the home stadium for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebels college football team.
Here is what you should know about this 65,000 seat stadium.
Location
Located adjacent to Las Vegas, the Allegiant Stadium is built on about 62 acres of land. The stadium’s construction began in November 2017 and got its occupancy certificate in July 2020.
Key Design Features
Architecture
Raiders owner Mark Davis decided to retain the services of MANICA Architecture to construct this stadium. David Manica owns this Missouri based architecture company, and they specialize in designing sports and entertainment facilities.
MANICA Architecture had also designed the proposed Carson Stadium located near Los Angeles. David loved the Carson Stadium look, which is why he decided to retain most of its original look.
The Structure
The Allegiant Stadium is a domed stadium with ten levels. It has a silver and black exterior accentuated with white ribbons of light. With its similarity to the Empire’s space station featured in Star Wars, it has a unique, classy look. Facing Interstate 15 is a 275 feet video screen. It also has large curtain-like side windows that are retractable and face the Las Vegas Strip.
The Torch
A large torch called the Al Davis Memorial Torch houses a flame in honor of the late long-time owner of the Raiders, Al Davis. With a height of 85 feet, this torch is the most massive 3D printed object in the world currently.
After he died in 2011, the Raiders would honor Davis before home games by lighting the torch.
The Field
One of the most exciting features of Allegiant Stadium is its retractable field. This natural grass field can slide into the stadium when it’s game time. At other times, it can slide back outside for some sunshine.
The first NFL venue to introduce the retractable field was the University of Phoenix Stadium, which is the home stadium for the Arizona Cardinals.
The 4-foot deep tray comprises the entire turf system. It also has irrigation, drainage, and a heating system that allows the temperature to be controlled all year round.
The Raiders prefer to play on the grass turf, while on the other hand, the UNLV prefers the artificial turf surface. The synthetic turf can be placed directly on the concrete floor of the stadium. The tray that holds the grass field can easily roll in and out, so the turf underneath is not disrupted.
Legacy Brick Program
The Raiders’ Legacy Brick Program allows fans to cement their legacy at Allegiant Stadium. Fans can show their loyalty by sharing memories and engraving and displaying a personalized brick at the Allegiant Stadium’s main entrance. The proceeds of this program benefit the Raiders Foundation.
When Can Fans Attend Games?
While the Allegiant Stadium opening was a highly anticipated event, we will have to wait a little longer to watch the game from the stands.
More than half of the NFL’s teams are getting set to allow fans into the stands, but the Raiders are of different opinions. Team owner Mark Davis has been steadfast in his stance that if all 65,000 fans cannot attend games at the sold-out Allegiant Stadium, no fans will. After making that statement ahead of the season, Davis has reiterated his stance several times. (Akers, 2020) To keep the players’ spirits high, the Raiders are considering using artificial crowd noise over the stadium’s speakers.
We’re looking forward to watching our home team play at this new, fantastic venue, and we can’t wait to get out and cheer for them. The technologically advanced Allegiant Stadium will also play host to concerts and other sporting events. We hope to have a great time at this global event destination soon!
Works Cited
Akers, Mick. “NFL Stadiums Begin Allowing Fans, but Don’t Expect Raiders to Follow.” Journal, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 16 Oct. 2020, www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raiders/nfl-stadiums-begin-allowing-fans-but-dont-expect-raiders-to-follow-2151183/.
