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Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis has broken his silence on the demand for NFL teams to use grass fields on the back of this summer’s World Cup.
The Allegiant Stadium was not one of the host venues for the United States at the World Cup, but it is one of the NFL stadiums that uses a natural grass playing surface.
There is an argument to be made that a natural surface is easier for Vegas to maintain given it is an indoor venue, which does not expose the grass to the elements.
However, Davis is one of the owners who believes playing on a grass field is largely beneficial for his players’ health and wellbeing.
This is not a view that is shared across the league, with numerous NFL players now protesting their thoughts after seeing grass pitches laid down for the World Cup soccer teams.
As the Dallas Cowboys have already ripped up their grass field at AT&T Stadium, Davis has issued a message on the importance of his players playing on a natural surface.
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis weighs in on NFL grass field protests
In recent days, Seattle Seahawks fans have urged their new owners to lay down a grass surface at Lumen Field.
It is proving the hottest topic of discussion across the league, as the players make their voices heard over social media.
“There was no way I was going to build the stadium or anything else to play on artificial turf,” said the 71-year-old.
“I just always felt that the safety issue, number one, and I grew up around football and the grass and mud and the smell of those uniforms after the game.”
The Raiders’ stadium cost just shy of $2 billion to build and Davis did not cost cut by going with an artificial playing surface for his players.
Pat McAfee has backed the NFL players’ protest for grass fields, with Davis also backing the notion it should be an investment from the owners towards their players’ safety.
Owners across the league are happy to pay out huge wages to their star players, but there is a clear hesitation from some of them to splash out on installing and maintaining a grass field.
Witnessing the same stadiums across the nation suddenly install grass for the World Cup will have come as a slap in the face for NFL players across the league.
This is why the movement is picking up steam ahead of the 2026 season getting underway.
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