Mark Davis (American football)

Mark Davis
Davis in 2017
Born	Mark M Davis[1] (1955-05-18) May 18, 1955 (age 66)[2] Brooklyn, New York
Nationality	American
Alma mater	California State University, Chico
Occupation	Businessman and sports franchise owner
Years active	2011–present
Known for	Principal owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and Las Vegas Aces
Parent(s)	Al Davis Carol Davis

Mark M Davis (born May 18, 1955)^[1][3] 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), ^[4][5][6] 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.^[7]

Early years[]

Davis was born in Brooklyn, New York to Al and Carol Davis.^[8] He is a graduate of California State University, Chico.^[3]

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 in 1986 he developed the muff-style hand warmer for football.^[9] 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 Branch's 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.^[10]

Professional sports[]

Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders[]

Davis inherited the team after the death of his father, Al Davis, in 2011.^[11][12] 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.^[13]

Relocation to Las Vegas[]

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.^[14][15]

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.^[16] Davis' and Spanos' proposal directly competed with and eventually lost to Rams' owner Stan Kroenke and his proposed stadium in Inglewood.^[17]

Until after the Carson vote Davis was also actively working towards a resolution in Oakland.^[18] 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".^[18] However, after a dispute over rent in Oakland where the city raised the rent on the team after the Carson plan failed and due to lack of what Davis saw as a credible plan from Oakland, 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.^[19] 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.^[20] The purchase was approved by the WNBA and NBA on February 12, 2021.^[21] Prior to owning the team, Davis had been a Aces' season ticket holder and a frequent attendee at home games. Davis said that discussions to purchase the Aces began shortly after he remarked to MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle at a game that the players should get paid more. Prior to making a formal bid, he had a meeting with Aces forward A'ja Wilson to gauge her thoughts about him taking over the team. Shortly after the purchase of the team by Davis, ground was broken on a training facility for the Aces in Henderson next to the Raiders facility. The 50,000 square foot facility will house the Aces’ practice facility, offices, training room and lockers and is expected to be completed by 2022.^[22]

Philosophy and 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.^[23]

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.^[24] 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"^[24] 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.^[25] 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.^[26]

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."^[27]

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.^[28][29]

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.^[30] 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.^[31][32] Davis donated $10,000 to the Gridiron PAC between 2016 and 2017.^[33]

References[]

Further reading[]

• Kawakami, Tim (January 11, 2012). "Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis makes good first impression". San Jose Mercury News. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012.
• Profile piece on Mark Davis done in 2014 from ESPN