“Are you kidding me?” – Raiders owner Mark Davis breaks silence on allegations of kicking fan out
The Las Vegas Raiders struggled through an extremely disappointing 2022 NFL season after entering the year with high expectations.
Many fans of the team became understandably frustrated with their lack of success after making it to the NFL playoffs the year before. Some of them even brought signs into their home stadium with messages expressing their frustrations with the franchise.
Many reports indicated that fans holding up signs with negative messages during home games were threatened to be removed from Allegiant Stadium. Some even claimed that they were told owner Mark Davis himself sent in a request for them to get rid of the signs or be kicked out of the stadium.
Davis was recently asked about these rumors in an interview with Vic Tafur, who covers the Raiders for "The Athletic" as a Senior Writer. Here's what he said:
"I didn't tell anybody to kick somebody out of the f***ing stadium. Are you kidding me? I would never do that. That's not me and it p**ses me off. I would never take on our fans because I'm a fan.
"I tried to get Marcel (Reece) to find out about it and there was a lot of this (points his fingers in opposite directions). But it wasn't f***ing me, and I made it clear that's not the way the Raiders do things."
Asked Mark Davis about Raiders kicking out home fans w/ negative signs last year:
"I didn't tell anybody to kick somebody out of the (effen) stadium. Are you kidding me? I would never do that. That's not me & it pisses me off. I would never take on our fans because I'm a fan."
Did MD follow up and find out what happened?
"I tried to get former (RB and VP) Marcel (Reece) to find out about it and there was a lot of this (points his fingers in opposite directions). But it wasn't (effen) me. And I made it clear that's not the way the Raiders do things."
While Mark Davis didn't deny that fans were disciplined for their negative signs, he claimed the order didn't come from him. He claimed his own fandom as one of the reasons why.
He has made major changes to the roster during the 2023 NFL offseason to back up the idea that he was frustrated with their 2022 outcome as well. Most notably, the Raiders released Derek Carr and signed Jimmy Garoppolo.
Davis is hoping this sparks success, as they have their sights set on another postseason appearance this year.
How much did the Davis family buy the Raiders for?
The infamous Al Davis, the father of Mark Davis, bought a 10% owenrship stake in the Raiders for $18,500 prior to the start of the 1966 NFL season. Adjusted for inflation, this would be about $147,000 in 2023. Six years later, Davis increased his share to become a three-way partner with two other owners.
While each of them owned a third of the team, Al Davis was the principal owner and controlling partner. The franchise was worth about $1.47 million, adjusted for inflation, when he signed on as an owner. Today, the franchise is estimated to be worth around $5.1 billion, according to Forbes.
Mark Davis net worth: How much is Raiders owner worth in 2023?
Mark Davis is currently estimated to be worth around $2 billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He currently serves as the principal owner of the franchise. He was instrumental in moving the franchise from their old home in Oakland to their new one in Las Vegas. He also secured the funding to build the Allegiant Stadium, their new home field.