Las Vegas Review-Journal

Stadium could be used as vaccine site

Raiders discuss possibilit­y with county officials

- By Mick Akers Contact Mick Akers at makers@ reviewjour­nal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.

Allegiant Stadium could be used as a COVID-19 vaccinatio­n site once mass inoculatio­ns in Southern Nevada begin.

“It is a potential resource we can utilize if we need to, but nothing is definite,” Clark County spokesman Erik Pappa said.

A person with direct knowledge of the situation said the Raiders have been in discussion­s with officials about possibly using the 65,000-seat stadium for larger-scale rollout of vaccines.

The NFL urged teams to start a dialogue with local officials about the possibilit­y.

“We have encouraged clubs to contact their state and local health department­s to offer stadiums and practice facilities if practical to serve as site for vaccinatin­g the general public,” NFL spokesman Brian Mccarthy said. “These will be decisions between the clubs and their local officials based on need, location and availabili­ty. We should have more informatio­n over the next several weeks.”

This is the latest step in the NFL’S efforts to make public use of team facilities during the pandemic, with most NFL stadiums closed to fans this season.

The latest example occurred in the fall, when about half of the NFL’S 32 clubs used their stadiums or facilities for election-related activities, including early voting and Election Day polling sites.

“More than 65,000 voters cast ballots at NFL sites,” Mccarthy said. “All teams offered, but use was contingent upon local need and regulation­s.”

Allegiant Stadium was an option for Clark County during election season, but county officials determined its was not needed.

The NFL has been in regular contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health experts, offering its support to promote vaccinatio­ns, Mccarthy said.

 ?? Michael Quine Las Vegas Review-journal @Vegas88s ?? The Raiders have been in discussion­s with county officials about using Allegiant Stadium to distribute vaccinatio­ns.
Michael Quine Las Vegas Review-journal @Vegas88s The Raiders have been in discussion­s with county officials about using Allegiant Stadium to distribute vaccinatio­ns.

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