Raiders fold on tailgate culture in Vegas

If there was one feature Mark Davis demanded in a stadium for his Raiders, it was parking. Lots of parking, for the Raiders’ traditional tailgate extravaganza and costume party.

Davis believes tailgating en masse is integral to the Raiders’ culture.

Two sources, both requesting anonymity because of their sensitive positions, told me Davis rejected any plan or idea for a stadium that did not include acres of parking at the stadium.

In fact, any proposal that had one less parking space than the Raiders have at the Coliseum was a nonstarter for Davis. The Coliseum/Oracle site has more than 8,000 parking spaces.

So of course, the Raiders’ stadium in Las Vegas will have ample parking, right? Sure! If you drive an Ample, you can park it right at the stadium. If you drive any other make of vehicle, you face more of a challenge.

At the new stadium, Pair-aDice Park (or some other catchy name), the Raiders will be required to provide 16,250 parking spaces, according to a report in the Las Vegas Sun. That includes off-site parking.

The Sun says current plans show a maximum of 2,725 parking spaces at the stadium. Another 14,000 or so parking spaces will be off site. Folks who park there will take shuttle buses to the stadium.

It is anticipated that many fans will arrive at the stadium by Uber/Lyft, taxi and on foot.

Davis reportedly rejected all Coliseum proposals that included housing or retail development, because that would cut into the parking/tailgating area.

The Raiders also rejected proposals to share Levi’s Stadium with the 49ers, in part because of limited parking on stadium grounds.

Must have Raider Nation barbecuing road kill and tuning up together like a gigantic choir, right?

Sort of. In Vegas, a Raiders home game will be like a big, glorious family picnic at which each family member eats in a different park, then they all converge at a central locale for the marshmallow roast.

Sounds like somebody heard the siren song of Las Vegas.