FSM Essential Story: Mark Davis Purchases WNBA's Las Vegas Aces

FSM Essential Game Recap: Raiders vs Broncos Week 17

Franchise Sports Media

 

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis has purchased the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA , pending approval from the league.

 

 

While the amount of the purchase isn’t known yet, Davis is no stranger to the WNBA franchise. Last season, he was a season ticket holder and the Raiders purchased $1,600 worth of tickets to kids in the Las Vegas area.

Davis has demonstrated a genuine interest in the Aces franchise and the development of a thriving Las Vegas sports culture. Considering Davis just moved the Raiders to Las Vegas, the Aces don’t have to worry about moving locations again. The Aces are here to stay in Vegas.

A partnership between the Raiders and Aces can also be extremely interesting, as the WNBA would certainly benefit and gain exposure from the NFL’s support. While some WNBA teams are also owned by NBA teams, there is no WNBA franchise that is also owned by an NFL franchise.

Davis can build support for the Aces using his NFL resources, which is uncharted waters for the WNBA to be in. Even simple social media posts between the two organizations can go a long way in exposing the Aces and the WNBA to NFL fans.

Mark Davis also brings a family history that is more friendly to sports fans than having a team owned by a casino. Mark’s father, Al Davis is one of the biggest legends in football history. He is the only executive in NFL history to be an assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner, and owner. Davis won the Super Bowl three times with the Raiders (1977, 1981, and 1984).

The team was owned by MGM Resorts international.

 

“I am excited to announce that I have entered into an agreement to purchase the Las Vegas franchise in the WNBA from MGM Resorts International,” Davis said in a statement. “I will have more to say once I receive official approval from the WNBA Board of Governors and have had a chance to speak with the players, coaches and administrators of the team.”

 

Davis has always stated that between the Vegas pro teams — which also include the Vegas Golden Knights — have a brother/sister hood relationship. While it’s unclear how the sale will affect the Aces‘ day-to-day operations, the Raiders have a working relationship with MGM, which partners with the NFL franchise in several business ventures.

 

“We can confirm we have entered into an agreement to sell the Las Vegas Aces to Mark Davis and are awaiting approval from the WNBA Board of Governors,” George Kliavkoff, president of entertainment and sports at MGM Resorts International, said in a statement. “Mark is a longtime champion of women’s basketball and we believe he is the right person to lead the Aces into a new era. We will continue our enthusiastic support of the WNBA, NBA and basketball in Las Vegas.”

 

The Aces have relocated three times over their history, most recently making the transition from San Antonio to Las Vegas in 2018, when MGMT purchased the team from Spurs Sports and Entertainment.

 

Since then, the team has been a consistent force, as they most recently made it to the 2020 WNBA Finals. The team is led by WNBA MVP A’ja WiIlson, and WNBA sixth-woman of the year Dearica Hamby. The team plays at Mandalay Bay Events Center and has a $75 million dollar practice facility.

The Raiders got approval from the NFL to move to Las Vegas in 2017 after attempts to build a new stadium in Oakland were unsuccessful and they were blocked in their attempt to move to Los Angeles.

They arrived in the desert in 2020 and opened their new $2 billion stadium, Allegiant Stadium, which looks out at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, where the Aces play their home games. They also built a $75 million practice facility in nearby Henderson, Nevada.

 

Davis has always been involved in the business standpoint of the Raiders, but he inherited the team from his father, Al Davis. He now owns two sports franchises in the Silver and Blacks home city, Las Vegas.

Mark Davis               Mark Davis             Mark Davis             Mark Davis             Mark Davis             Mark Davis                      

Jesus Cano – Franchise Sports Media

Twitter: @Juice_Cano

 

Join The Franchise on Social Media

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube