The Raiders last night officially held their first game inside Allegiant Stadium, defeating the Saints 34-24. From the "field goals to the fanfare, from the end-zone celebrations to the redemption arcs, everything was bigger in the first NFL game at the venue colloquially being called 'the death star or 'the Al.'" Carol Davis, the wife of late Owner Al Davis, partook in a "ceremonial lighting of the torch right before kickoff in front a wall of retractable windows, which gave a glimpse of several Raiders fans assembled outside the stadium." The stadium also was "treated to a pregame flyover from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 9/22).
Although fans "won’t be allowed to attend games at Allegiant Stadium all season, that didn’t stop a few dozen members of the Raiders Nation from showing up to christen the new home" last night. It "wasn’t quite like the tailgating scene at the Oakland Coliseum parking lot, but there were a few zany characters dressed in Raiders garb, horns honking from cars with Raiders flags mounted atop and people singing, 'Raaaaid-ers!' in unison" (USA TODAY, 9/22).
