Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Gearing up for game day: Raiders surprise season-ticket holders with gift package

Raiders Season Ticket Boxes

Steve Marcus

Mike Seifer poses with his Las Vegas Raiders season tickets for the 2020 season at his home in Henderson Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. The tickets arrived in a commemorative box that included a light-up stadium model at left.

Raiders Season Ticket Boxes

Mike Seifer displays his Las Vegas Raiders season tickets and special inaugural season patch for the 2020 season at his home in Henderson Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. The tickets arrived in a 2020 Raiders season ticket commemorative box. Due to COVID-19, fans won't be able to attend the 2020 inaugural season at Allegiant Stadium but ticket money is refunded or carried forward to the next season, Seifer said. Launch slideshow »

When Mike Seifer arrived home recently, he was met with an unexpected delivery from FedEx. He opened the package, saw the shiny black gift box from the Las Vegas Raiders and was blown away.

Seifer and other season-ticket holders received a similar package, which included a replica stadium and an inaugural season patch that is stitched on game jerseys. He opened the box to see a message in bold letters: “Welcome to Raider Nation.”

“That was a pretty cool surprise,” Seifer said. “It was a nice touch, a nice little gesture.”

The box also included Seifer’s commemorative tickets — personalized with his name — for the debut Raiders season at Allegiant Stadium, the franchise's $2 billion home off the Strip. The initial home game is Sept. 21 against the Saints on Monday Night Football, but fans won’t be allowed in the stadium all year because of the pandemic.

Not being there in person isn’t how anyone envisioned the Raiders’ maiden season in Las Vegas, where the franchise anticipated playing in front of raucous capacity crowds in their new building, a 65,000-seat domed stadium that’s one of the jewels of the NFL.

Seifer shares in the disappointment of not being there on opening night, knowing the pregame festivities celebrating the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas would be something to forever remember. The 40-year Las Vegas resident, who is also a Golden Knights and UNLV basketball season-ticket holder, cherishes supporting the home teams. He proudly keeps a picture on his phone of the layout at Allegiant with an arrow pointing to his pair of seats at the top of the first deck.

But, despite the circumstances, he feels a kinship with Raider Nation. The gift package helped cement the excitement shared by others across town: The Raiders are our team.

“I didn’t think we would live to see an NFL franchise here,” said Seifer, a native of Philadelphia and lifelong Eagles fan. “I love football and this is where I live. I started gathering a collection of Raider apparel to support my new team. We're excited to see some Raider football.”

Frank Rinaldi, another season-ticket holder, was eager to take his children to a few games. While their family outings must be delayed until next year, virus willing, there are a few opponents he was hoping to see this fall.

The Raiders are hosting some of the game’s legends in the twilight of their careers — the Saints’ Drew Brees, the Buccaneers’ Tom Brady and the Colts’ Phillip Rivers. This season would be the only time the children would see those quarterback greats in person.

“We’d drive by the stadium (on the highway) and I’d tell the kids, ‘We’re going to games there,’” Rinaldi said.

Rinaldi, a real estate agent, bought six season tickets — the personal seat license was $7,500 a ticket alone — and also planned to bring clients to games. Usually, when he closes a deal, the seller is gifted Dom Perignon or other high-end bottles of alcohol. But he also gives tickets, including to the Golden Knights.

“The Raiders games will be a great time just like the Knights games, but with three times as many people,” Rinaldi said.

Justin Woo, a Los Angeles transplant, purchased seats 17 rows up from the end zone in the stadium’s party zone. Every Sunday will be a gigantic celebration — in 2021, of course. When the Raiders announced games would be played without fans, Woo took the option to have the money he already paid credited to next season.

He’s part of a group with eight tickets in the same section.

“It’s all about being part of the community,” he said. “The Raiders are going to be part of Vegas culture.”

Woo makes a great point — the team is now part of Las Vegas. In two weeks, it will be what we do on Sundays in the fall, even if cheering from home.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21