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Mark Davis (American football)

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Mark Davis
Davis in 2017
Born
Mark M Davis

1955 (age 64-65)[1]
Brooklyn, New York
NationalityAmerican
Alma materCalifornia State University, Chico
Occupation(s)Businessman and sports franchise owner
Years active2011–present
Known forPrincipal owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and Las Vegas Aces
Parent(s)Al Davis
Carol Davis

Mark M Davis (born 1955)[1][2] is an American businessman and sports franchise owner. He is the principal owner and managing general partner of the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL), [3][4][5] and the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). As of October 2015, Davis has an estimated $500 million net worth.[6]

Early years

Davis was born in Brooklyn, New York to Al and Carol Davis.[7] Davis is a graduate of California State University, Chico.[2]

Prior to owning the team, Davis was involved in the retail part of the Raiders' business where he helped develop the organization's Raider Image stores. He also spent time in the Raiders equipment department where he developed the muff-style hand warmer for football. In 1980, Davis represented Raiders player Cliff Branch in contract negotiations with the team which resulted in a deal that included an annuity (active until his death in 2019) and got Mark kicked out of his father's house for being too close to the players. He later lived with Branch when the team moved to Los Angeles.[8]

Professional sports

Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders

Davis inherited the team after the death of his father, Al Davis, in 2011.[9][10] Davis with his mother, Carol, owns a 47 percent share of the Raiders, which is contractually structured to give them controlling interest. Davis has day-to-day control of the team.[11]

Relocation to Las Vegas

Main articles: Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas, Carson Stadium, and Allegiant Stadium

Davis gained control of the team towards the end of the Raiders lease with the Oakland Coliseum, a facility that dates back to 1965 and had multiple issues due to its age. It was also at the time the only facility that still housed both a Major League Baseball and NFL team, a major point of contention for both leagues. As such, Davis put himself in charge of an effort to construct a new stadium for the Raiders, an issue that his father Al was never able to solve in his tenure as owner. He initially stated a desire to keep the Raiders in Oakland (preferably on the Coliseum site) or the immediate area. Due to the lack of a stadium plan, Davis began to communicate with representatives in other cities such as Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Las Vegas.[12][13]

In late February 2015, Davis announced that the Raiders would pursue a shared stadium in Carson, California, with Dean Spanos and the San Diego Chargers.[14] Davis' and Spanos' proposal directly competed with and eventually lost to Rams' owner Stan Kroenke and his proposed stadium in Inglewood.[15]

Until after the Carson vote Davis was also actively working towards a resolution in Oakland.[16] In an interview, he said "we are trying everything possible to get something done in Oakland right on the same exact site we're on right now".[16] However after a dispute over rent in Oakland where the city raised the rent on the team after the Carson plan failed and a lack of what Davis saw as a credible plan from Oakland, Mark Davis began exclusive discussions with Las Vegas. He initially teamed up with Sheldon Adelson to get a stadium in Las Vegas though after funding was acquired for the stadium Adelson was cut out of the deal. On March 27, 2017, the National Football League officially approved the Raiders move from Oakland to Las Vegas in a 31–1 vote, ensuring them a new stadium in the process.

Las Vegas Aces

On January 14, 2021, Davis agreed to purchase the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association from MGM Resorts International.[17] Prior to owning the team Davis had been a frequent attendee of Aces' home games.

Management style

In his ownership of the Raiders, Davis has focused on the business aspects of the team while leaving football matters in the hands of the team's general manager. This form of management is in stark contrast to his father, who was well known as one of the most hands-on owners in professional sports. Al Davis became general manager of the Raiders in 1966 after returning from a short stint as AFL commissioner, a post he kept after becoming principal owner in 1972. He exercised close control over both business and football matters until his death.

In 2013, Davis fired the Raiders public relations director because of a Sports Illustrated article that was critical of Davis' father. Davis stated that the director's replacement needed to understand the importance of his father's legacy and actively protect it.[18]

On domestic violence in the NFL

Davis spoke out publicly on the issue of domestic violence in the NFL, following San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald's arrest on August 31, 2014.[19] Davis disagreed with Jed York's decision to keep McDonald on the active roster, proposing that the league should suspend any player arrested with pay while "the investigation moves forward"[19] This was the first proposal of this kind following the Ray Rice assault video surfacing, that specifically called for an immediate suspension of players rather than leaving the decision to suspend up to the respective franchises themselves. In March 2015, Davis again went public on the issue of domestic violence, shutting down rumors that the Raiders' started negotiations with Greg Hardy, who was convicted on domestic abuse charges earlier that year.[20] The Raiders' organization has traditionally been vocal about domestic violence issues, with direct involvement with the Tracey Biletnikoff Foundation, created by Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff to support community substance abuse treatment and domestic violence programs.[21]

On social justice and player protests

Davis has spoken out publicly on the controversial National Anthem protests in the NFL, where players kneel during the playing of the pre-game National Anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality on African Americans. Davis originally preferred his players to stand, but after comments made by President Donald Trump calling protesting players "Sons of Bitches" and saying they should be fired for kneeling, Davis changed his stance. In a public statement the following weekend he stated, "About a year ago before our Tennessee game I met with Derek Carr and Khalil Mack to ask their permission to have Tommie Smith light the torch for my father before the game in Mexico City," Davis told ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "I explained to them I was asking their permission because I had previously told them that I would prefer that they not protest while in Raiders uniform. And should they have something to say once their uniform was off, I might go up there with them. Over the last year, though," Davis continued, "the streets have gotten hot and there has been a lot of static in the air and recently fuel has been added to the fire. I can no longer ask our team not to say something while they are in a Raider uniform. The only thing I can ask them to do is do it with class. Do it with pride. Not only do we have to tell people there is something wrong, we have to come up with answers. That's the challenge that's in front of us as Americans and as human beings."[22]

In May 2018, Davis abstained from an NFL owner resolution on the anthem protests that called for players to stand or stay in the locker room until after the anthem is played or face a team fine for kneeling, locking arms or raising their fist. Davis abstained along with San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York after speaking out on social justice issues to the other owners.[23][24]

Personal life

Davis says he is a food connoisseur and has said that his favorite restaurants include Dan Tana's in Los Angeles, California, Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach, Florida, and P.F. Chang's.[25] Davis is known for his signature bowl haircut and for driving a 1997 Dodge Caravan SE which is outfitted with a bubble-top Mark III conversion kit as well as a VHS player mounted to the ceiling.[26][27] Davis donated $10,000 to the Gridiron PAC between 2016 and 2017.[28]

References

  1. ^ a b Sapakoff, Gene (September 6, 2020). "Sapakoff: Raiders owner Mark Davis corrects Wikipedia on Charleston, Citadel ties". Charleston Post and Courier. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Tafur, Vic (October 9, 2011). "Davis family will retain ownership of Raiders". The San Francisco Chronicle. p. B-9. Archived from the original on October 10, 2011.
  3. ^ "Davis family will keep ownership of Raiders, executive says". National Football League. October 8, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  4. ^ Poole, Monte (January 10, 2012). "Monte Poole: Did Mark Davis make the call on Hue Jackson's firing?". Bay Area News Group. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012.
  5. ^ Williamson, Bill (January 6, 2012). "Mark Davis knows his role in Oakland". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012.
  6. ^ Knowlton, Emmett (October 2, 2015). "Oakland Raiders owner is worth $500 million and still uses a 2003 Nokia phone and drives a minivan". Business Insider. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  7. ^ Sapakoff, Gene. "Sapakoff: Raiders owner Mark Davis corrects Wikipedia on Charleston, Citadel ties". Post and Courier. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  8. ^ Keown, Tim (October 14, 2014). "Just live up to your dad's name and solve the NFL's L.A. problem, baby!". ESPN. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  9. ^ Gutierrez, Paul (January 9, 2012). "Prepping for Tuesday's Raiders media conference". Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012.
  10. ^ "Statement from Raiders owner Mark Davis". Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area. January 10, 2012. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  11. ^ Dickey, Glenn (January 5, 2012). "Oakland Raiders in need of major front-office makeover". The San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012.
  12. ^ "Raiders owner Mark Davis admits meeting in San Antonio". USA Today. Associated Press. July 30, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  13. ^ "Q&A with Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis – NFL Nation". ESPN. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  14. ^ "Chargers, Raiders will jointly pursue an NFL stadium in Carson". Los Angeles Times. February 20, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  15. ^ "Stan Kroenke ready to show NFL owners detailed Inglewood stadium plans". Los Angeles Times. March 21, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Mark Davis: We're trying everything to get Oakland stadium deal". National Football League. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  17. ^ "Mark Davis, Raiders owner, agrees to purchase Las Vegas Aces WNBA team". KTNV. January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  18. ^ "Raiders' Mark Davis: 'Reggie's fine'". ESPN. June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Cindy Boren (September 18, 2014). "Raiders owner Mark Davis says he can solve the NFL's domestic-violence crisis". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  20. ^ "Mark Davis is not happy Raiders used as Greg Hardy's leverage". Yahoo Sports. March 13, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  21. ^ Peterson, Anne M. (May 7, 2000). "Former Raider Star Biletnikoff Honors Deceased Daughter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  22. ^ "Mark Davis: 'I can no longer ask our team to not say something while they are in a Raider uniform'". Silver And Black Pride. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  23. ^ "Mark Davis abstained from owner vote on anthem resolution, spoke up on social justice issues". Silver And Black Pride. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  24. ^ "Raiders' Mark Davis confirms he abstained from anthem vote". The Mercury News. May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  25. ^ "The TK Show – Mark Davis – EP04A". SoundCloud. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  26. ^ Wickersham, Seth; Van Natta Jr., Don (April 13, 2017). "Sin City Or Bust". ABC News. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  27. ^ Keown, Tim (October 14, 2014). "Just live up to your dad's name and solve the NFL's L.A. problem, baby!". ESPN. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  28. ^ "Get to know Mark Davis, the Oakland Raiders' owner". Sports Illustrated. July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

Further reading


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