BERT TABOR

Sales and Marketing Manager for Souls & Deals

Bert Tabor was a Raiders employee when the team was in Los Angeles. Tabor had been fired by Al Davis because of drug issues. He went into rehab, eventually moved to Las Vegas and became successful in the high-end lighting business.

In June 2013, Tabor and his partners were called to Oakland by Mark Davis. Tabor recounted what happened in multiple interviews, including a Las Vegas radio chat in 2020.

“Mark Davis looks at me, shakes my hand and says, ‘You doing good?’ He looks at Bill Smith (one of Tabor’s partners) and says, ‘Hey, suit-and-tie guy, how big is Bert in Vegas?’ And he says, ‘What do you want?’ I calmed down and I looked at … Mark and I said, ‘I know what you want, Mark, hold on.’ I run out in front of his office and I called both Goodmans, (former mayor) Oscar and (his wife, current mayor) Carolyn.

“They call me right back and say, ‘What’s wrong?’ I said, ‘You guys, you won’t believe this, Mark wants to bring the team to Vegas.’ She goes, ‘Where are you at?’ I say I’m in front of him. I hand him my cell phone. They’re on the phone about 45 minutes, and we’re sitting there. They hang up and the next thing I know, Mark is coming to town. The secret meeting was at Oscar’s restaurant. … I waited five years (for the team to move). Carolyn Goodman sent me a text, said, ‘Bert, you are the reason the Raiders are coming; me and Oscar want to wish you a beautiful New Year.’”

Carolyn Goodman publicly thanked Tabor during a restaurant opening on August 6, 2020.

just want to say something a little preemptive here,” Goodman said. “You know we’re getting our Las Vegas Raiders soon. I want to introduce you to someone who was very instrumental in helping us get the Las Vegas Raiders to Southern Nevada. Bert Tabor, put your hand up please.”

Goodman then pointed at Tabor and said: “You really did it. We’re just so grateful for this.”