The Kansas City Chiefs’ bitter rivalry with the Las Vegas Raiders took a strange turn this week as the defending Super Bowl champions prepared to defend their title against the San Francisco 49ers in Sin City.
As the home team for Super Bowl LVIII, the Chiefs took over Raiders facilities at Allegiant Stadium in a move that left many of Las Vegas’ fans displeased.
But Raiders owner Mark Davis ceded control of his team’s space with surprising grace during Super Bowl opening night on Monday. When a reporter asked Davis if it was awkward to hand the keys to Allegiant Stadium over to Kansas City, his response was surprisingly respectful.
Mark Davis on #Chiefs occupying Raiders facilities this week: "They earned it" @KSHB41 #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/ZgqBeIjvcL
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) February 6, 2024
“As I tell everyone, the Chiefs and the 49ers are my two favorite teams, other than the Raiders,” Davis told Ladd. “Hey, listen, they earned it, and that’s why they’re here.”
While tensions between the AFC West foes may have cooled temporarily, the Raiders and fans in Las Vegas will be relieved when Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ stars vacate the premises after Super Bowl LVIII.
