Raiders games in Las Vegas are unique compared to other NFL games, with crowds that are not typical for most NFL teams.
Indeed, the Las Vegas valley is home to numerous Raiders fans. Additionally, many NFL fans from across the nation visit to watch their respective teams play in Sin City.
In most NFL games, the crowd predominantly supports the home team. However, this is not always the case in Las Vegas.
How to bet on the Las Vegas Raiders and the nearest casino-hotels to games
In Nevada, all new sports betting app accounts must be initiated at a physical sportsbook within a casino. The state does not provide the option for remote registration of sports betting app accounts.
Mandalay Bay is the nearest casino to Allegiant Stadium if you go straight as the crow flies. However, the exit from Luxor could be marginally closer to Allegiant Stadium.
Delano is an all-suite hotel situated within the Mandalay Bay complex. Positioned close to the Mandalay Bay sportsbook and the entry to The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, this hotel tower is a non-gaming establishment.
The Shoppes at Mandalay Place connects the two casinos and the Delano hotel.
Both Mandalay Bay and Luxor house BetMGM sportsbooks, which are crucial locations due to their proximity to Allegiant Stadium.
Accounts with BetMGM in Nevada are distinct from those in other states where sports betting is legal. An individual with a BetMGM account from outside Nevada will be required to register for a separate Nevada account in person at a BetMGM sportsbook.
Las Vegas Raiders home schedule
This season, the Raiders will have eight home games at Allegiant Stadium, with the majority scheduled for 1 pm on Sundays.
Currently, only one “night” game is scheduled. The Raiders are set to play the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football at 5:20 local time on Dec. 18. However, it will still be daytime in Las Vegas at that time.
- September 18 against Arizona – 1:25 PM
- October 2 against Denver – 1:25 PM
- October 23 against Houston – 1:05 PM
- November 13 against Indianapolis – 1:05 PM
- December 4 against Los Angeles Chargers – 1:25 PM
- New England vs Dec. 18 – 5:20 PM
- January 1 against San Francisco – 1:05 PM
- January 8 against Kansas City – Time to be determined
The NFL is refraining from setting kickoff times for games during the final week of the season. This strategy will reduce confusion if a TV network chooses to move the game to a primetime slot.
Getting to Las Vegas Raiders games
A range of options are available for reaching Allegiant Stadium for Raiders games, although parking at the stadium is limited.
Nearby casinos, as well as parking spaces within a mile of the stadium, are available for locals and tourists who want to walk or take a rideshare to the stadium.
Walking
One can walk directly from a casino to Allegiant Stadium, although it may take some time. Bear in mind, distances in Las Vegas can be deceiving as most places are further than they seem.
The two nearest casinos are just across the freeway from Allegiant Stadium. You can reach there by a one-mile walk across the Hacienda Bridge from Mandalay Bay or Luxor, which will approximately take 20 minutes.
The estimated 20-minute walk to the stadium isn’t too taxing, but it’s calculated from the closest exit of the two casinos. Visitors should factor in additional time for reaching these casinos and navigating through them to the exits.
Driving
Only around 6,000 parking spots are available on-site at Allegiant Stadium. However, there are about 35,000 parking spaces within a one-mile radius of the stadium.
Parking at Allegiant Stadium costs anywhere from $40 to $100. Meanwhile, MGM Resorts provides pre-paid parking spaces at Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur for a fee of $35.
Parking spaces outside of these locations may vary based on demand. Spot Hero is the official parking partner of Allegiant Stadium.
Furthermore, local parking listings are available on Parking.com. Meanwhile, parking passes are sold on the secondary market by TicketMaster.
Rideshare
The designated rideshare area for services like Uber and Lyft at Allegiant Stadium is situated at Lot N, 5285 Dean Martin Dr. The walk from there to the stadium will only take a few minutes.
Just like at other football stadiums, heavy traffic before and after Raiders games makes traveling by car a slow process.
Fans also have the option to use rideshare services for transportation to and from nearby casinos, and then walk across the Hacienda Bridge.
Surge pricing is usually implemented by rideshares around Allegiant Stadium before and after Raiders games, which may result in higher than usual prices.
Busing
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) offers affordable bus service to Raiders games from various parts of the Las Vegas valley.
Bus tickets, priced at only $2 each way, are available from a range of off-strip casinos. For further information, please check with the RTC.
Raiders tickets are in high demand
According to TicketIQ, the average ticket price for a Raiders game last year was $691, making it the most expensive in the NFL.
This season, it appears that Raiders ticket prices on the secondary market are significantly higher than average, largely due to tourists. The high demand is what drives the purchasing prices for Raiders tickets.
Supporters of various teams visiting Las Vegas are ready to pay any price to watch their team compete there. Informally, numerous fans from different NFL cities have been rescheduling their yearly Las Vegas trips to coincide with their team’s match against the Raiders.
Last year, when playing in Las Vegas, Raiders fans were frequently outnumbered by visiting team supporters. This year seems to be following the same trend, with the Raiders’ home games conveniently located just off the Vegas Strip.
Allegiant Stadium is situated opposite Mandalay Bay and Luxor, on the southern end of the Vegas Strip, across the I-15 freeway. If the stadium was more distant from the tourist corridor, similar to UNLV’s previous home stadium, it would probably attract fewer tourists to the games.
Tailgating before Raiders games
Tailgating for Raiders games in Las Vegas is a little different compared to other football games nationwide. There’s no all-day tailgating allowed.
Four hours before the games start, the parking lot at Allegiant Stadium opens.
Compared to most NFL stadiums, Allegiant Stadium has restricted parking. Tailgating is only permitted in designated areas for visitors.
- These onsite parking lots allow tailgating: A, B, C, E, F, G, H & J.
- These offsite parking lots allow tailgating: T, V, U, X, W, S, Z, N.
Attending a Raiders game at Allegiant Stadium and tailgating with friends will require some advanced planning and coordination on the day of the game.
Parking in the lots of Allegiant Stadium is highly regulated. The staff will direct cars to the next open parking spot.
Guests are required to park in the designated spots. Should a group of individuals wish to park adjacently for tailgating, they must queue up in succession and enter the parking lot simultaneously.
Vehicles are only allowed to start lining up one hour before the lots open.
Allegiant Stadium is cashless
Allegiant Stadium was inaugurated as the first professional sports facility in America to be fully cashless. No cash transactions are allowed anywhere within the premises of Allegiant Stadium.
The following methods can be used by visitors to pay for food, drinks, merchandise, etc.:
- Debit Card
- Credit card
- (Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay) mobile wallets
Cash-to-card kiosks are conveniently located throughout Allegiant Stadium for those who need a cashless payment method.
Visitors have the ability to exchange cash for prepaid cards at the kiosks, which can be used inside and outside of the stadium.
Where to eat before and after Raiders games
The majority of individuals attending Raiders games will not be engaging in traditional tailgating. Las Vegas offers an abundance of bars and restaurants that can cater to any pre and post-game requirements.
For those parking at an offsite lot, using rideshares, or walking from a casino, reaching the game will require some time. To adequately budget your time for eating, consider factoring in the 20-minute walk from Mandalay Bay or Luxor.
Nearly 40 restaurants can be found between Mandalay Bay and Luxor. The Fan District On The Tap serves as a hub for celebrations before and after Raiders games.
Food and drink specials are offered by MGM Resorts at the following venues located between the two casinos:
- Aurora
- Centra
- Eye Candy
- Libertine Social
- Public House
- Rhythm & Riffs
It is recommended to make reservations at any of the fine dining restaurants at either casino post-game.