To make an understatement, Oakland and Las Vegas are a lot different. So it’s no surprise that Allegiant Stadium has had a different vibe than the Raiders’ previous home, the venerable Oakland Coliseum.
Fans in Oakland were well known for being boisterous, rowdy, and intimidating. That’s despite relatively low attendance, judging by the infamous tarps ownership placed over seats in the upper deck to reduce capacity.
Ticket sales in Las Vegas, on the other hand, aren’t an issue at all, as Allegiant has been sold out from the start. But given the high resale value of tickets and the Raiders’ spotty win-loss record, some games have had an unsightly influx of visiting fans.
Since interim coach Antonio Pierce took over it’s been mostly silver and black in the stands, and Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams has taken notice. On Tuesday, he told reporters he felt some Oakland vibes during the team’s last two home games, both wins.
“I came here with the intention of making it tough on teams coming here in this building and not making it a friendly place to play. In Oakland, that’s how it’s been historically,” Adams said. “Everybody coming there, they already knew they were going to have to deal with the fans, and we’re starting to feel that from our fans now.
“So we just got to continue to do our part, team-wise, to make sure we’re applying that pressure and making it not a fun place to come here and play.”
It’s a great sign that Raiders fans have packed Allegiant over the last two home games, but as Adams says, the Raiders must keep giving them a reason to show up. After Pierce took over for ex-coach Josh McDaniels, the fans certainly had a reason to attend and they were rewarded with two home victories.
For now, it appears that attendance at Allegiant will vary depending on the team’s performance. The Raiders are in Las Vegas, after all. There’s a lot to do in the Entertainment Capital of the World. Visiting fans, on the other hand, can’t wait to visit America’s adult playground no matter the price, giving Raiders fans an opportunity to recoup part of what they spent on season tickets.
If the Raiders build a winner, all indications point to a boisterous home crowd at Allegiant that rivals the legendary crowd in Oakland. Having one of the best players in the NFL in Adams will certainly help the cause.
