Raider Friday 2023: How It All Started
The Stalk Family
Raider Friday was born from a simple but powerful idea: every game day Friday, wear silver and black. Inspired by “Blue Friday” in Seattle, this movement started when the Stalk family—Joshua, Debbie, Ethan, and Arlee—got tired of seeing opposing teams take over Allegiant Stadium. They believed Raider Nation deserved a true home field advantage—not just in the stadium, but throughout the community.
Joshua reached out to another member of The Black Hole, The Bandit, and together they created the original Raider Friday logo. The first event was a success, but the real impact was personal. Joshua’s son, Ethan, who is on the autism spectrum, had always struggled to connect with classmates. But when Ethan wore his Raider socks on Raider Friday every Friday (the photos below are from the school dress-up days that The Stalk Family took advantage of as Raider Friday at their school), something changed. His classmates noticed. They talked to him. And suddenly, Ethan didn’t feel so alone.
Even with his school’s uniform policy, Ethan found a way to participate by wearing Raider socks. That small act became his connection to something bigger. Every Friday became a day to belong.
Joshua was overwhelmed with joy, and he didn’t stop there. During the off-season, he continued the mission. He reached out to Raider superfans across the country, determined to build something greater. After connecting with dozens of people, he put together a dedicated team led by Hollywood Raider, who helped bring together superfans, booster clubs, and the Raider Nation as a whole.
This growing team was united by the message of Unity and Inclusion—making sure that if Ethan could feel like he was part of something, other kids could too.
At our second official Raider Friday school event, we handed out bracelets to the students with powerful messages like “Be Happy” and “My Life Matters.” What followed was more than we expected—students wrote heartfelt letters to the super fans, sharing how much they appreciated the visit and how it made their day. Just like Ethan’s very first Raider Friday—what began as a dress-up day became something deeply meaningful.
We knew we made an impact—not only because of the letters—but because of how our participants responded, how the kids lit up, and how a simple idea brought joy, connection, and belonging.
Raider Friday 2023 wasn’t just about showing spirit—it was about making sure every child feels seen, valued, and included.
And that’s what Raider Friday is all about.