The Las Vegas Raiders have adopted a broad approach to in-game entertainment at Allegiant Stadium, assembling a roster of well-known performers from a variety of music and entertainment genres. Acts such as Steve Aoki, Carlos Santana, Ice Cube, Ludacris, Gladys Knight, Marie Osmond, and others have played for fans during games. Performances also include acts like Jabbawockeez and the Blue Man Group.
According to team owner Mark Davis, the strategy draws inspiration from the team’s time in Los Angeles during the 1980s. “I really learned how to match the team and entertainment when we moved to L.A. in ’82 and Jerry Buss was just starting Showtime with the Lakers (…) Those games at the Forum had a lot of personalities, with Jack Nicholson sitting courtside, and he’d bring people like Dyan Cannon (…) So, I learned how going to the game could be an experience, and it wasn’t just about watching the game. (…) In Las Vegas, we can offer so much entertainment that is different from anywhere else in the league,” Davis said in an August 2022 interview while attending Cliff Branch’s enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Davis works closely with Brad Phinney, senior vice president and chief experience officer for the team, to shape an experience that goes beyond football. The emphasis remains on classic rock and hip-hop acts aimed at appealing to what Davis describes as “Silver and Black tastes.” Notably, all halftime headliners don Raiders jerseys.
Recent entertainment additions include George Thorogood performing with David Perrico and the Raiders House Band near the Al Davis Memorial Torch area inside Allegiant Stadium. The performance space between bandstand and bar has grown into a focal point during pregame and halftime periods.
Diana Ross was brought in by Davis to headline a party for Cliff Branch’s enshrinement at a Canton country club. Later events featured Ross alongside Lady Gaga at a dinner party before Super Bowl 58 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Stevie Wonder performed a full concert during the Raiders Silver & Black Gala at Allegiant Stadium in May.
Davis highlighted his motivation to include local musicians by referencing his experiences watching Del Courtney’s band perform for Raiders crowds during his childhood: “They were part of the whole experience. They had a corner of the stadium, or they were on the field (…) And you know, Del would be up there and he was the bandleader. I liked seeing him there,” Davis said.
The list of national anthem performers includes Marie Osmond, Gladys Knight, Neal Schon of Journey, Yolanda Adams, Tinashe, Vanessa Hudgens, Montell Jordan, Wayne Newton with Las Vegas Academy Singers, Joe Satriani, Mickey Guyton and more.
Halftime or pregame shows have featured Steve Aoki, Ice Cube (with Too $hort), Judith Hill (with Criss Angel), Ludacris (with Grambling State University Marching Band), Marshmello (with Richie McDonald), Sammy Hagar (with Michael Anthony and Vic Johnson), Don Felder (with Orianthi), Iggy Azalea (with John Fogerty), T-Pain (with Lil Jon) among others.
Davis acknowledged that fan enjoyment rises when the team performs well on-field: “Just Win, Baby” is known as one of the franchise’s mottos.
