The Raiders are nearing completion of the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for this season, and the exterior has already garnered plenty of Roomba — or a Death Star, especially at night — comparisons.
But for anyone who had seen the renderings for Allegiant Stadium — which showed a clear sky through an expansive, translucent roof — the actual interior for the Raiders’ new home may leave something to be desired.
Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Mick Akers got an inside look at the Raiders’ stadium last week, and he shared photos of the progress. The opaque roof immediately stood out as a surprise.
Just take a look at the initial renderings:
Now, take a look at the actual stadium interior:
And a video:
That’s not quite the same thing at all. And while renderings are rarely exact representations of the final product, the translucent roof was a huge component of the stadium design. It was bright and seemingly brought the outdoor environment to an indoor setting. The actual roof fails to do so.
According to Akers, the roof isn’t covered with a protective film — it’s the final product.
He added that concerns about heat inside the stadium and sunlight forced the Vegas roof to differ from the translucent design already set for the Rams and Chargers’ new home at SoFi Stadium.
The Raiders’ stadium, though, will have massive, retractable lanai doors to provide natural light.
