Raiders owner: 'My mindset today is no fans' at games
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to play at the new Allegiant Stadium for the first time in 2020, but with the COVID-19 crisis escalating in the U.S., owner Mark Davis is leaning toward keeping his $1.9-billion home closed to fans.
"No one fan is more important to me than another, no matter if they paid for a $75,000 PSL or a $500 PSL," Davis told ESPN's Paul Gutierrez on Sunday. "They're all Raider fans to me. My mindset today is no fans (should attend games).
"I don't even know if it's safe to play. 'Uncertainty' is the word."
Davis insisted that if no fans can attend games, he won't either. He added the Raiders could push back much of the planned celebrations for their first season in Las Vegas to 2021.
"We want our inaugural season to be something special," Davis said. "I don't even know if we'll light the (Al Davis) torch. These are all potentials and respecting all."
With training camps starting as soon as Monday, Davis believes the league has three options for the season:
- Continue as scheduled, with teams requiring veteran players to report to camp by July 28
- Cut the season down by four games (likely interconference contests) and push back the beginning of the campaign to November
- Cancel the season altogether
"Everything is up in the air with the (COVID-19) virus and how it will affect our league and season," Davis said.
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