Thousands of Raiders fans poured into the team’s Henderson headquarters Friday for the Festival of Football, a celebration centered on the arrival of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

After nearly three hours of interactive games, merchandise shopping, and draft-watch activities, Mendoza took the stage to a roaring ovation. “Let’s f—-in’ go,” he shouted. “I appreciate you guys coming out.”

Mendoza, who led his college team to a national championship, sat for a brief interview with JT the Brick and Baron Davis. He praised the Raiders’ practice facility, calling it “the Death Star,” and said, “There’s no excuse for me at this point, because I have all the resources here that I need to get to the level that I want to be.”

When the AFC West rivals were mentioned — the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos — Mendoza gave a thumbs down as the crowd booed loudly.

His No. 15 jersey was a hot seller at The Raider Image pop-up shop. Jose Toscano of Temecula, California, went straight for the jersey. “He seems like he’s a good person and then his heritage got him here,” Toscano said.

Michael Gonzales of Arizona drove in for the event, noting the stark contrast between the new facility and the old one in Alameda, California. “It’s really cool. … This is a world of difference,” he said.

The draft played on a big screen, and fans cheered when the Raiders selected safety Treydan Stukes from Arizona with the 38th overall pick. Hall of Famers Tim Brown and Eric Allen also greeted the crowd. Brown said he had been texting with Mendoza and believes the rookie will give “the Nation everything that he gets.”