What Playing In Empty Stadiums Will Cost Every NFL Franchise
See what each team stands to lose if fans can't attend games.
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While most scheduled sporting events over the next few months have been canceled or postponed, the longer-term prospects of playing a season of pro football remain up in the air. And with the NFL looking for ways to play as much football as possible, one potential solution being discussed is to hold the games without fans in the stadium. This would allow the NFL to satisfy its television contracts even if it means missing out on ticket and concession revenue.
However, if your assumption is that the NFL’s business model is entirely tilted to the television rights side of things, you’re overlooking a pretty massive chunk of sales that is created with those eight regular-season home games each team has every year. While television makes the NFL the big business it is, those in-person sales of food and gear to people who shelled out for a ticket represent hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue — not to mention thousands of jobs.
To give a better sense of just how great the economic impact of holding an NFL season without fans would be, GOBankingRates looked at Forbes team evaluations of every NFL franchise, the study reveals just how much money is brought in on an annual and per-game basis by sales of tickets and concessions.
The results demonstrate that professional football teams would suffer hundreds of millions of dollars in losses if fans didn’t attend games. Football, indeed, is very big business.
Last updated: May 4, 2020
Las Vegas Raiders (previously the Oakland Raiders)
- Average attendance: 52,549
- Average ticket price: $114.18
- Revenue per home game: $44.63 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $6 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $48 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $38.63 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $309 million
Annual revenue: $357 million
Check Out: What a Canceled Season Costs the NBA, MLB, NHL and Other Leagues
Editor’s note: Figures from the 2019 season in Oakland.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Average attendance: 31,750
- Average ticket price: $228.35
- Revenue per home game: $46.88 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $7.25 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $58 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $39.63 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $317 million
Annual revenue: $375 million
Editor’s note: Figures from Dignity Sports Park, the 2019 home of the Chargers.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Average attendance: 47,179
- Average ticket price: $127.18
- Revenue per home game: $47.50 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $6 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $48 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $41.50 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $332 million
Annual revenue: $380 million
Detroit Lions
- Average attendance: 61,342
- Average ticket price: $114.11
- Revenue per home game: $48.13 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $7 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $56 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $41.13 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $329 million
Annual revenue: $385 million
Buffalo Bills
- Average attendance: 68,839
- Average ticket price: $96.24
- Revenue per home game: $48.25 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $6.63 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $53 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $41.63 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $333 million
Annual revenue: $386 million
Indianapolis Colts
- Average attendance: 61,110
- Average ticket price: $120.68
- Revenue per home game: $49.13 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $7.38 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $59 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $41.75 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $334 million
Annual revenue: $393 million
Tennessee Titans
- Average attendance: 64,509
- Average ticket price: $106.57
- Revenue per home game: $49.25 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $6.88 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $55 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $42.38 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $339 million
Annual revenue: $394 million
Cleveland Browns
- Average attendance: 67,431
- Average ticket price: $98.25
- Revenue per home game: $49.88 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $6.63 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $53 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $43.25 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $346 million
Annual revenue: $399 million
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Average attendance: 51,898
- Average ticket price: $130.06
- Revenue per home game: $50 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $6.75 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $54 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $43.25 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $346 million
Annual revenue: $400 million
Arizona Cardinals
- Average attendance: 61,323
- Average ticket price: $118.23
- Revenue per home game: $50 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $7.25 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $58 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $42.75 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $342 million
Annual revenue: $400 million
Los Angeles Rams
- Average attendance: 71,229
- Average ticket price: $124.60
- Revenue per home game: $50.13 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $8.88 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $71 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $41.25 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $330 million
Annual revenue: $401 million
See: How Much Athletes Make for Playoff Runs in the NBA, NFL and Other Sports
Editor’s note: Figures from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the 2019 home of the Rams.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Average attendance: 73,465
- Average ticket price: $102.09
- Revenue per home game: $51.25 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $7.50 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $60 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $43.75 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $350 million
Annual revenue: $410 million
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Average attendance: 63,085
- Average ticket price: $120.87
- Revenue per home game: $53 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $7.63 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $61 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $45.38 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $363 million
Annual revenue: $424 million
Carolina Panthers
- Average attendance: 72,220
- Average ticket price: $131.54
- Revenue per home game: $53 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.50 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $76 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $43.50 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $348 million
Annual revenue: $424 million
Minnesota Vikings
- Average attendance: 66,849
- Average ticket price: $132.76
- Revenue per home game: $53.38 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $8.88 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $71 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $44.50 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $356 million
Annual revenue: $427 million
Baltimore Ravens
- Average attendance: 70,627
- Average ticket price: $130.97
- Revenue per home game: $54.75 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.25 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $74 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $45.50 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $364 million
Annual revenue: $438 million
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Average attendance: 62,237
- Average ticket price: $144.61
- Revenue per home game: $54.88 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $72 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $45.88 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $367 million
Annual revenue: $439 million
Seattle Seahawks
- Average attendance: 68,990
- Average ticket price: $119.58
- Revenue per home game: $54.88 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $8.25 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $66 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $46.63 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $373 million
Annual revenue: $439 million
New Orleans Saints
- Average attendance: 73,082
- Average ticket price: $119.73
- Revenue per home game: $55.13 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $8.75 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $70 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $46.38 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $371 million
Annual revenue: $441 million
Miami Dolphins
- Average attendance: 63,067
- Average ticket price: $144.69
- Revenue per home game: $55.38 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.13 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $73 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $46.25 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $370 million
Annual revenue: $443 million
Denver Broncos
- Average attendance: 75,937
- Average ticket price: $131.69
- Revenue per home game: $55.75 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $10 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $80 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $45.75 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $366 million
Annual revenue: $446 million
Chicago Bears
- Average attendance: 61,916
- Average ticket price: $151.41
- Revenue per home game: $56.63 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.38 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $75 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $47.25 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $378 million
Annual revenue: $453 million
Read: Sports Leagues and Teams Are Starting To Cut Salaries — Here’s Who Stands To Lose the Most
Green Bay Packers
- Average attendance: 77,845
- Average ticket price: $118.83
- Revenue per home game: $57 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.25 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $74 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $47.75 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $382 million
Annual revenue: $456 million
Atlanta Falcons
- Average attendance: 71,601
- Average ticket price: $130.93
- Revenue per home game: $57.25 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.38 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $75 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $47.88 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $383 million
Annual revenue: $458 million
New York Jets
- Average attendance: 78,523
- Average ticket price: $130.54
- Revenue per home game: $59.38 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $10.25 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $82 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $49.13 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $393 million
Annual revenue: $475 million
Philadelphia Eagles
- Average attendance: 69,783
- Average ticket price: $139.72
- Revenue per home game: $60.25 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.75 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $78 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $50.50 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $404 million
Annual revenue: $482 million
San Francisco 49ers
- Average attendance: 70,305
- Average ticket price: $138.68
- Revenue per home game: $61.50 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.75 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $78 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $51.75 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $414 million
Annual revenue: $492 million
Washington Redskins
- Average attendance: 65,488
- Average ticket price: $148.88
- Revenue per home game: $61.63 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.75 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $78 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $51.88 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $415 million
Annual revenue: $493 million
Houston Texans
- Average attendance: 71,793
- Average ticket price: $130.58
- Revenue per home game: $62.13 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $9.38 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $75 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $52.75 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $422 million
Annual revenue: $497 million
New York Giants
- Average attendance: 74,664
- Average ticket price: $162.39
- Revenue per home game: $64.88 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $12.13 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $97 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $52.75 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $422 million
Annual revenue: $519 million
New England Patriots
- Average attendance: 65,753
- Average ticket price: $197.71
- Revenue per home game: $75 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $13 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $104 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $62 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $496 million
Annual revenue: $600 million
Dallas Cowboys
- Average attendance: 90,929
- Average ticket price: $148.47
- Revenue per home game: $118.75 million
- Gate receipts per home game: $13.50 million
- Yearly gate receipts: $108 million
- Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $105.25 million
- Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $842 million
Annual revenue: $950 million
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Methodology: In order to find what a season played in empty stadiums would cost each franchise, GOBankingRates looked at Forbes’ team evaluations for the National Football League. Using these reports and attendance reports for the 2019-20 season from ESPN, GOBankingRates found the following data points to measure the revenue each franchise will lose out on in one season without fan attendance: (1) yearly revenue, (2) revenue per home game, (3) yearly gate receipts, (4) gate receipts per home game, (5) average attendance, (6) average ticket price per home game, (7) yearly food and merchandise revenue, (8) food and merchandise revenue per home game. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 20, 2020.
About the Author
Joel Anderson
Joel Anderson is a business and finance writer with over a decade of experience writing about the wide world of finance. Based in Los Angeles, he specializes in writing about the financial markets, stocks, macroeconomic concepts and focuses on helping make complex financial concepts digestible for the retail investor.
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