Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL is going to have to make some serious changes for the season.
One of those decisions centers around tarping off the first eight rows of every NFL stadium for games since there will be no fans in the stands. Teams will be able to sell ads on the tarps.
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis disagreed with the idea and was the only owner to vote against it.
“I can’t imagine telling one fan they cannot attend the opening game of our inaugural season in Las Vegas at the most magnificent stadium that they helped to build, let alone tell 3,500 fans that their seats are gone for the entire season,” Davis said, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Those seats in the front rows are some of our most ardent fans, including members of the famed Black Hole. You think I want to sell advertising on their seats?”
As you can see, Davis seems to be upset that fans won’t be able to experience watching the team all year long in a brand new billion dollar stadium.
“Creativity will be necessary,” Davis said, per Bonsignore. “One of our executives came up with a solution, one in which Las Vegas will be familiar. But the league shot it down dismissively. But we’re not ready to give up yet. We will do everything we can to see that all our fans are able to attend every game this season.”
Davis wasn’t done as he blasted the NFL for its lack of equity despite the message they’ve been sending to teams.
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“Unfortunately, a league that operated the entire offseason on the basis of equity, whether it be the draft or team facility access, has completely dropped the ball on uniform attendance procedures,” Davis said. “We have potentially 32 different capacities and seating formations. Where is the equity in that?”
Davis did make it clear that he will follow the rules put in place by the government.
“What Governor [Steve] Sisolak and the state of Nevada determine to be safe in the face of coronavirus after careful consideration, I’ll abide by,” Davis said. “And at the appropriate time, he may determine that it isn’t safe for 100 percent of the fans to attend. At that point, I have to make a decision.”
