No vaccine requirement, but bring a mask for BYU's season opener in Las Vegas
By Sean Walker, KSL.com | Posted - Aug. 20, 2021 at 4:53 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders players warms up during an NFL football training camp practice at Allegiant Stadium, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Las Vegas. The stadium that will host BYU's season opener Sept. 4 against Arizona will require masks for all fans in attendance. (John Locher, Associated Press)
PROVO — No vaccine will be required for fans traveling to Las Vegas for BYU's season opener against Arizona, but bring a mask instead.
A week after the Raiders announced that all fans will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend home games in the new state-of-the-art Allegiant Stadium, the building's current policy has been updated to include non-Raiders games in the same venue.
Allegiant Stadium will not require vaccinations for fans and others traveling to the stadium for non-Raiders or NFL events, such as concerts or college football games (the stadium is the home field for UNLV football in 2021, as well). But a mask policy will be in place for everyone in the building, regardless of vaccination status.
"For all other events at Allegiant Stadium, all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a face mask while inside the stadium," the stadium's recently updated policy reads. "Individual events held at Allegiant Stadium may also implement heightened COVID-19 protocols, so please read all correspondence regarding an individual event carefully."
The policy adds that the Raiders and Allegiant Stadium staff are "currently evaluating" the prospects of a vaccine requirement for outside events, meaning the policy is subject to change.
Vaccines will be required for all ticketed fans ages 12 and over beginning with the Raiders' Sept. 13 home opener on Monday Night Football. Fans who provide proof of vaccination using the mobile app of the team's partner CLEAR will not be required to wear a mask inside the building, either.
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The Raiders will require all patrons attending games at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination through a mobile app by CLEAR, which will allow fans to attend games without wearing a mask.
Additionally, no alternative of a negative test for COVID-19 will be in place under the Raiders' policy, a deviation from similar requirements across the NFL, most notably the New Orleans Saints. Las Vegas became the first NFL market to require proof of vaccination to attend games.
The team will also have vaccine distribution available on game day at the stadium.
"If somebody comes to the game and they have a ticket and are unaware of the mandate to be vaccinated, we will have the ability to vaccinate them in the parking lot," Raiders owner Mark Davis told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"That is why we are quickly giving them the opportunity to turn in their tickets for a full refund or roll over their money (to next season)," he added. "I don't know what else we could do for them, but when you look at it, it's not just about you, it's about the person sitting next to you. That's who we're trying to protect."
Both requirements follow emergency directive 049 signed by Gov. Steve Sisolak (D-Nev.) that requires the use of face coverings at all indoor events where social spacing is not feasible and vaccination status remains unknown. Apart from enforcing a mask mandate, that left the door open for the Raiders to remove the mandate — if they can guarantee fully vaccinated status for anyone who attends a game.
"This requirement will remain in place until state and local restrictions related to masks, distancing, or capacity limits are lifted," Allegiant Stadium officials said. "We will continue to enforce this policy in keeping with State of Nevada and Clark County directives."
BYU issued its own mask mandate Friday, requiring all students, faculty and staff to wear face coverings in classrooms, indoor spaces where social distancing is not allowed or feasible, and in other areas as directed by the university.
The university has not revealed plans for mask mandates at LaVell Edwards Stadium for the fall 2021 season.
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Sean Walker
A proud graduate of Syracuse University, Sean Walker has covered BYU for KSL.com since 2015, while also mixing in prep sports, education, and anything else his editors assign him to do.
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