The Raiders announced Tuesday that rookie Fernando Mendoza will start Sunday's Week 10 home game against the Seattle Seahawks at Allegiant Stadium after the team traded veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings. The move triggered an immediate spike in the secondary ticket market.
On TickPick, the cheapest ticket for Sunday's game rose from $291 on Monday to $395 by Tuesday afternoon, while the average ticket price climbed from $1,013 to $1,138. Available listings also dropped from 9,422 to 8,159 over the same period.
Mendoza's commercial appeal has been building since he was selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft following a Heisman Trophy and national championship season at Indiana. His jerseys have sold rapidly since draft day, and the NFL Players Association ranked him No. 1 on its Rookie Rising Stars list in July.
The rookie quarterback already holds endorsement deals with Adidas, U.S. Bank, Wheels Up, Taco Bell and State Farm. The Raiders have marketed him heavily, including billboards across the Las Vegas Valley and social media posts Tuesday declaring "H15 time" and featuring Mendoza set to the team's iconic "Autumn Wind" score.
University of South Carolina professor Natasha Brison described Mendoza in April as "a brand's dream endorser: excelling both on and off the field," citing his business-minded approach, family-oriented values and leadership.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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