The Philadelphia Eagles set out in Week 7 to take on the Las Vegas Raiders in a game that well-traveled Birds fans likely circled on their calendars once the NFL released their 2021-22 schedule.
Sunday’s game marks the first time the Eagles have played at Roomba-style Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders’ $ 1.9 billion dome that was built last year in Paradise, Nevada, a city about six miles south of downtown Las Vegas, was opened. After decades in Los Angeles and Oakland, the Raiders have created a premier destination to which traveling NFL fans can plan weekend trips to the entertainment (and gambling) capital of the world.
Sunday kick-off is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. EST (1:05 p.m. Pacific time), and the game represents another tough test for the 2-4 Eagles who faced a glove of high-level opponents earlier in the season. The Raiders, 4-2, won an AFC West league win against the Denver Broncos last week, but are also in the midst of a transition following the resignation of head coach Jon Gruden. Old, insulting emails sent by Gruden were unearthed during the league’s investigation into the Washington Football team.
Eagles fans participating in the Sunday game have a lot to consider when traveling to Las Vegas – from tailgating options to entertainment to important local COVID-19 regulations to follow over the weekend.
We’ll provide you with the information you need to get the most of your Las Vegas getaway.
Fans must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Allegiant Stadium
Anyone 12 years or older who will participate in the Eagles Raiders game on Sunday must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter the Allegiant Stadium. When the Raiders announced this in August, they were the first NFL team to require fans to get their shots before they see games in person.
The easiest way to prove your vaccination is to download the free Clear mobile app. It prompts users to upload selfies and vaccination cards, which are then verified by image recognition and biometric data software.
If you are not using the Clear app, you can show your vaccination record and ID at another control station in the Allegiant stadium. Negative COVID-19 tests will not be accepted in lieu of proof of vaccine.
Fully vaccinated fans do not need to wear face masks in the stadium. Children aged 12 and under must wear face masks.
Everyone traveling to Las Vegas, whether fully vaccinated or not, has to pack some masks. Nevada has an indoor mask mandate that applies to everyone.
Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports
Fans heading to Allegiant Stadium for Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Las Vegas Raiders should download the Clear mobile app to show they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Enjoy the Vegas sun this weekend
While the Eagles are the main reason Philly fans flock to Las Vegas, the pleasant desert weather comes close behind. According to the weather forecast, it will be sunny and warm on Sunday afternoon. Here is the forecast for the whole weekend:
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny, high around 83 degrees all day; Cooler in the evening, lows around 60.
SATURDAY: Sunny in the afternoon, maximum temperature of 77 with gusts of wind up to 30 km / h.
SUNDAY: Sunny and warm on game day, maximum temperature close to 78 and minimum temperature close to 60 degrees.
MONDAY: Partly sunny with a high near 74 degrees and rain likely after 11am
There are Eagles bars in Las Vegas, as well as Chickie’s and Pete’s
For Las Vegas newbies or those looking to hang out with fellow Eagles fans this weekend, the Torrey Pines Pub at 6374 W. Lake Mead Blvd. sure bird-friendly. According to a compilation of NFL team bars by the Las Vegas Review Journal, the bar tends to be full on game days.
Chickie’s and Pete’s, a favorite at home, opened a restaurant in Sahara Las Vegas on October 6th. The sports bar chain, which started in Northeast Philly, originally announced plans to expand west in 2019. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on sports and businesses, the opening has been delayed by almost two years. The Chickie’s and Pete’s Sahara team is excited to welcome Eagles fans to their new location, be it to watch the game or just drop by for crabfries.
Unique to the Las Vegas Chickie and Pete location, the restaurant has a William Hill Sportsbook where diners can place bets on the Eagles Raiders game or any other sporting event, Eater reported.
Other Eagles-friendly bars in the area include Blondies Sports Bar & Grill, whose website has a detailed game day reservations page along with a map of the bar seating arrangements so fans know they have good seats to watch or watch the game to celebrate – or pity – in retrospect.
There are tailgating options in and around the Raiders Stadium
Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports
Raiders fans compete with Eagles fans in their passion and skill. Above, Raiders fan Gabriel Andrade, disguised as the Darkside Demon, poses during a tailgate before a September game.
The Raiders’ loyal and rabid fan base is one of the few in the NFL who can legitimately compete with Eagles fans. A certain amount of respect has grown between these two teams that once met at Super Bowl XV and usually only meet every four years.
This story, combined with the novelty of Las Vegas for Eagles and Raiders fans, should make the new tailgating experience at Raiders games a welcoming atmosphere with light-hearted competition between two fan bases who can handle a little trash talk.
Driving into the parking lots of the Allegiant stadium is regulated by the code of conduct for guests, which defines the rules and behavior before and during the game.
Fans are allowed to tailgate in stadium parking lots, but all tailgate activity is restricted to areas directly in front of or behind vehicles, right down to the emergency access lines painted in each row. Driving into open parking spaces is prohibited and guests must use suitable rubbish bins.
Especially for fans arriving in large groups, oversized vehicles with a length of more than 6 meters and trailers are not permitted in the stadium. RV and oversized vehicle owners are advised to contact Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort, located about 4.5 miles south of Allegiant Stadium, which has a huge RV campground. The Raiders have a relationship with the resort and offer a free shuttle service to and from the stadium on matchday.
Fans more looking for a casino-style tailgate that’s just a few minutes’ walk from Allegiant Stadium can head to Bud Light Beer Garden, which is located between Mandalay Bay and Luxor. The 130,000-square-foot space, which opens four hours before kick-off and still rocks after the game, is on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Hacienda Avenue.
Entry to the Budlight Beer Garden is free, and fans can find all kinds of food, drink, games, and live entertainment.
Marijuana is legal in Las Vegas, but know the rules
Nevada’s recreational marijuana legalization went into effect in 2017 and has made Las Vegas a destination for cannabis enthusiasts in recent years.
Eagles fans who are over 18 and want to show off their true green color have many options to purchase marijuana and cannabis edibles, but there are a number of important rules and laws that must be followed.
The basics of marijuana ownership in Nevada is that it is legal to own up to an ounce of cannabis for personal use and smoke marijuana for recreational purposes within the confines of a home. It is not legal to smoke or use marijuana in public, and the vast majority of Las Vegas casinos and hotels do not allow people to smoke marijuana on the casino floor or in the hotel rooms attached to the casinos.
You can browse this map of Las Vegas pharmacies or check out recommended places to buy edibles, but those purchasing these items should be careful.
It is not worth bringing marijuana to Allegiant Stadium as it is a smoke-free facility and the prohibited items list can be construed to include anything that is “dangerous, inappropriate, or disruptive to the enjoyment of other guests “apply to the event” as well as “illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.” There is a risk that marijuana, in whatever form, will be confiscated at the gates.
After your stay in Las Vegas, it’s also important to remember that federal law still treats marijuana as an illegal drug. Even if fans fly between states where marijuana is legal (not Pennsylvania), it remains against the law to take cannabis products on flights.
Getting caught with marijuana at an airport can lead to unclear jurisdictions. TSA officers don’t specifically look for marijuana, but if they do come across it they are legally required to report it to police, who may take action, or otherwise ask you to clear it before boarding a flight.
How these situations are dealt with may vary from place to place, and having a state medical marijuana card can improve a person’s chances of forbearance, but travelers are advised not to take any of these items with them to airports or on airplanes.
Last but not least, those who may be excited about Las Vegas’ move to create cannabis lounges will be a little early to take advantage of this this time around. These stores won’t open until 2022.
Electric Daisy Carnival is sold out, but there are other things that don’t belong to football
For those looking for something outside of football – who don’t sit in casinos and gamble, or just sit by the pool in the sun and feed your hangover – check out this compilation of events taking place in Las Vegas this weekend by Thrillist .
It includes Las Vegas Seltzerland, a tough afternoon seltzer taste test at Angel Park Golf Club. General and VIP tickets start at $ 39. Guests have access to the taste test, which includes more than 30 different types of seltzer, as well as food, games, and activities.
There are also tickets for the Aquarius Film Festival, which starts on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Art Houz Theater, 804 S. Third Street. Festival passes start at $ 55 and allow guests to see all of the shows available.
And the return of the Electric Daisy Carnival is also happening in Las Vegas this weekend, and although the big music festival on Motor Speedway is sold out, there are still some last-minute tickets for performances and club events available until the end of the week- long event on Tuesday, October 26th
The information in this article was compiled by PhillyVoice staff Hannah Kanik, Maggie Mancini, and Michael Tanenbaum.
