Raiders Preseason Is Back at Allegiant, and We're Already Saving You a Stool

The Silver and Black just dropped their 2026 preseason slate, and both home tune-up games land on a Thursday. Here's the schedule, the matchups, and why Boomers is where you want to be parked when kickoff hits.

The schedule just dropped, and it's a Thursday double

Football finally feels close again. The Raiders released their 2026 preseason dates and it turns out both of their home tune-up games land on Thursdays, which honestly works out great for anybody who treats Thursday like a soft Friday. First up is Arizona on August 13, then a few weeks later San Francisco rolls through town on August 27, and both kick at 5 p.m. local time at Allegiant.

In between those two home dates, the only other game on the preseason slate sends the team out to Houston on August 20 for a road tilt, which airs nationally. So Vegas gets the bookends and Texas gets the middle game. That means our watch schedule is simple: two Thursdays, five o'clock, screens up, and we're not going anywhere.

Preseason doesn't count in the standings and everybody knows it, but that's kind of the point. Nobody's stressed about a playoff seed in August. It's low pressure, the rosters are still figuring themselves out, and it's the first real chance all year to sit at the bar with a cold one and actually watch football again instead of just talking about fantasy drafts.

Why the home slate matters more than the box score

Both Allegiant Stadium preseason games are set to broadcast locally, which is the detail that actually changes how a neighborhood bar plans its week. A locally televised game means every regular sports bar, ours included, can legally pull it up on the big screen without jumping through hoops, so you don't have to hunt around town wondering who's actually carrying the broadcast.

There's also something to be said for a Thursday kickoff specifically. It's not competing with Sunday brunch crowds or Monday night grind, it's just its own little midweek event. A lot of regulars treat preseason Thursdays as the unofficial start of fall, the first sign that cooler nights, tailgate snacks, and a full slate of Sunday football are right around the corner.

And honestly, preseason football hits different in a bar setting than it does at home alone. Half the fun is the running commentary from whoever's sitting next to you about whether the backup quarterback deserves a real shot, or whether that rookie receiver is going to make the final roster. That's a conversation that plays a lot better with a drink in hand and a crowd around you than it does on your couch.

What we'll have going at Boomers on both nights

We're treating both Thursdays like proper kickoff nights, not just background noise. Screens go on early, so if you want to grab a seat before the pregame coverage starts, that's the move. We'll have the usual game-day rotation of beers on tap plus a couple of rotating drink specials tied to kickoff, because nothing pairs better with a preseason snap count than a cold pour.

If you're the type who shows up more for the food than the football, we've got you too. Bar snacks, shareable plates, the stuff that's built for a table full of people who are half watching the game and half catching up on each other's week. That's really the whole neighborhood-bar pitch in a nutshell: come for the game, stay because it's easy to hang out.

Bring the crew, claim a spot near a screen, and let's see what this year's roster looks like before it actually matters. Preseason might not count on paper, but a good crowd and a cold drink always count around here.

How to actually enjoy a Thursday preseason game

Preseason football rewards people who treat it like an event instead of an afterthought. Here's how to do it right.

1. Show up before kickoff: Pregame coverage and roster battle chatter are half the fun, and the good seats near the screens go early.
2. Don't overthink the score: Preseason results mean nothing, so relax and watch it for the position battles instead of the scoreboard.
3. Order something shareable: A table of appetizers works better than a solo entree when everyone's attention is split between the game and each other.
4. Ask about the drink specials: Kickoff nights usually come with a rotating pour or two worth trying instead of your usual order.
5. Keep an eye on the backups: Preseason is where you spot the sleeper who might actually make the roster, and calling it early is half the bragging rights.
6. Make it a standing plan: Two home dates means two easy chances to get the same crew back together before the regular season grind starts.

← More from the Boomers Bar blog