While the NFL reigns as king of the American sports landscape, regionally, it can be a different story.
The Raiders are one of the most iconic franchises with one of the largest fan bases in football, but according to their All-Pro TE Darren Waller, they are the “Clippers” of Vegas, playing second fiddle to the NHL’s Golden Knights.
“We’re like the Clippers when we showed up,” said Waller in an interview with USA TODAY Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon. “We played a softball game against the Knights at the minor league ballpark, and the fans went crazy for the Knights. They were happy for us too, but the Knights are their squad.”
Waller’s experience isn’t surprising when you consider the Golden Knights’ historic run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. And despite narrowly missing the 2022 playoffs, the Knights led the NHL in attendance for the 2021-22 season, selling out all 41 home games.
For Waller and the Raiders, the football team did not find the same success in their first season with fans. Even with the draw of the immaculate Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders ranked in the NFL’s bottom ten in attendance last season.
Waller believes making the playoffs, locking up Derek Carr to a long-term deal and landing Davante Adams and Chandler Jones this offseason will help the team establish themselves in Sin City.
“We are carving out our niche here in Vegas,” Waller said.
Waller also made it clear he intends to be around to see that growth after trade rumors swirled around him during draft week, even going as far to say Vegas’ sports landscape might be expanding.
“Vegas, for a sports town, we are definitely getting an NBA team and definitely getting an MLB team. I feel like it’s only a matter of time just by the way these fans support and show up and go wild for the teams that are already here. I feel like it’s a no-brainer. I can’t wait to be here, living here, playing here, when it happens.”
Watch the full interview here:
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