NFL stadium attendance continues to suffer as the backlash from players protesting the National Anthem extends into week 14. Fans from across the league are sharing photos of empty seats at kickoff and well into the first quarter this Sunday.
Prompted by poor attendance, the teams like the Buffalo Bills are selling tickets at rock bottom prices.
Photo credit: CBS Sports
Not only are tickets going for cheap at some games, but this Thursday’s television ratings show yet another decline, says the Hollywood Reporter.
Thursday NFL showings this season, but again down from 2016. The overnight score represents a 14 percent spill from the comparable game last season. Still, in a NFL season beset by more ratings dips, particularly in primetime, NBC’s run of Thursday games has held up comparatively well.
Now for the empty seats…
Green Bay Packers vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium
FirstEnergy Stadium is nearly empty just moments before kickoff.
#GBvsCLE @Browns pic.twitter.com/qwGD8qf7As
— Dawgpool (@dawgpool) December 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/Gearhart4/status/939916190046093312
#loyalty #ClevelandBrowns #GoBrowns #firstwin #cleveland pic.twitter.com/xMPcEXD9NP
— DigitalDaddy (@digital_lif3) December 10, 2017
"Defensive end from Texas A&M … "#GBvsCLE https://t.co/JOvNoHX4we
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 10, 2017
Ready to bring home a win! #Browns #GBvsCLE @Browns pic.twitter.com/CN8Chwg0rO
— Tom E. (@teverette11) December 10, 2017
Well into the first quarter and empty seats galore seen at the Browns game.
Congrats to Kirtland’s Tiger LaVerde on being a @Browns high school coach of the year finalist #GBvsCLE #HornetPride pic.twitter.com/Kvt9j0FfBI
— Jonathan Adkins (@Producer_Jon) December 10, 2017
Beautiful Cleveland day to have the @ClevelandClinic #colorectalsurgery crew watch the @packers beat @Browns pic.twitter.com/Po5ltMwQfk
— Scott R. Steele (@ScottRSteeleMD) December 10, 2017
Go @Bengals ! #LetsRoar @MillerJAndrew pic.twitter.com/8lrrxeEzHQ
— Paola Suro 11Alive (@PaolaSNews) December 10, 2017
#WhoDey #Bengals #BeatChicago pic.twitter.com/pkjwafaF3J
— Jared Wadley (@jared_wadley) December 10, 2017
Empty seats highly visible in the second quarter.
Cincy RT @SWINGNMISS7: @[me] #CHIvsCIN second quarter pic.twitter.com/lJ3wQQrzzg
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) December 10, 2017
Cincy RT @SWINGNMISS7: @[me] #CHIvsCIN second quarter pic.twitter.com/lJ3wQQrzzg
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) December 10, 2017
Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium hit with heavy attendance woes at kickoff.
15 minutes before the Tampa Bay Bucs and Detroit Lions kickoff. A lot of empty seats and A LOT of blue pic.twitter.com/w5Pzi8qsfp
— Katherine Smith (@katsmithsports) December 10, 2017
Lots of blue and empty seats at Ray Jay pic.twitter.com/pImeJVNFzV
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) December 10, 2017
Oakland Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium has plenty of empty seats at kickoff.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bch-SgUHd5gdq4ZeUZYz4fCe-eQww76IuJv8mU0/
Well, the Raiders are here…#Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/z1QwYrD96w
— Jason Lamb (@JasonLambKSN) December 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/CoachDabecka/status/939918135423102977
Lot of empty seats here at Arrowhead …
— Nancy Armour (@nrarmour) December 10, 2017
53 degrees and at Arrowhead Stadium. #RaidersChiefs underway pic.twitter.com/29KXjrtUnX
— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) December 10, 2017
#Arrowhead #ChiefsKingdom #KCvsOak pic.twitter.com/VBuR4Qkq8A
— Shannon O'Brien (@ShannonOBTV) December 10, 2017
Kansas City #NFL RT @MOP1995: @[me] chiefs vs Raiders pic.twitter.com/AAegT1kjBv
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) December 10, 2017
Happy 40th Gabe! #ChiefsKingdom #gochiefs pic.twitter.com/CTmJiq4B7W
— Kendra Carlson (@kcarlsontech) December 10, 2017
A sea of empty red seats are pictures below as the Raiders duke it out against the Chiefs in the first quarter.
https://twitter.com/jennnnmartin/status/939921784387919872
Section 109 row 31 seats 29-30 #molotteryseats #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/j7OOdBIZwD
— Kelsie Richards (@kelsiedanger) December 10, 2017
#molotteryseats row 16 seats 18 and 19 section 116 pic.twitter.com/5DAIPZC6bI
— bookqueen5 (@bookqueen5) December 10, 2017
Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium
Many bright blue seats visible at Bank of America Stadium right before kick off.
This is BengalsSnob reporting live from Bank of America Stadium pic.twitter.com/6FrAr3sZpR
— Bengals Snob (@BengalsSnob) December 10, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BciAB6RgyDr/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BciArVVnmN1/
Attendance at the Vikings vs. Panthers game didn’t improve much as the first quarter got underway.
What a Panthers touchdown makes us do…smile! #Panthers #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/qdE3BjrkJ1
— Holly L (@blueyedbelle14) December 10, 2017
My seats today. pic.twitter.com/cirzvjVhtW
— ZMG (@zmg_jop) December 10, 2017
San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans at NRG Stadium
It’s kickoff time at NRG Stadium and there were empty seats a plenty…
Proof that the 49ers aren’t the only ones struggling with empty seats. pic.twitter.com/aV9SX8NnpH
— Ann Killion (@annkillion) December 10, 2017
Lots of empty seats at the Texans game today. #emptynflseats pic.twitter.com/aQArkOiBv0
— James Fleming (@jbfeagle) December 10, 2017
Well into the first quarter and tons of empty seats can be seen at NRG Stadium.
I'm at NRG Stadium – @nrgparkfan for Houston Texans vs. San Francisco 49ers in Houston, TX w/ @kilowatto https://t.co/1TOVvDoTwT pic.twitter.com/L7j5hlVXLD
— RoooRmz (@RoooRmz) December 10, 2017
#WeAreTexans #HoustonTexans #BattleRedDay (@ NRG Stadium – @nrgparkfan in Houston, TX) https://t.co/ZFwE8HxAUU pic.twitter.com/rwaesNXTgK
— Ana Rausch (@bookkworm) December 10, 2017
Let’s go @49ers where my 9ers go, I go !!!! #houston #nrgstadium #49ers #saloonsquad pic.twitter.com/EbHtvKoqzj
— Ivan (@boyleheights13) December 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/JustinPortillo/status/939928855883771905
Big attendance issues in the second quarter in Houston.
#SFvsHOU RT @RaceWeather: Where is everyone? Oh… this is everyone @HoustonTexans @[me] @NFL pic.twitter.com/yI8r37AAze
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) December 10, 2017
Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium
Paul Brown Stadium was nearly empty as kickoff time drew closer. Things didn’t get any better attendance-wise after kickoff.
Empty seats are plentiful today #bearsbengals #BearDown pic.twitter.com/1Vdmv4m2tT
— Benjamin Lanka (@BenLanka) December 10, 2017
Kickoff. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/Z2WU5qfM77
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) December 10, 2017
Empty seats galore at Paul Brown Stadium after kickoff.
Tons of empty seats at Paul Brown Stadium. At our hotel they had $18 tickets available. #Bears #Bengals pic.twitter.com/ScIOhiIdxq
— George Smith (@georgesmithtv) December 10, 2017
@EmptySeatsPics Who Dey Nation out in full force today. pic.twitter.com/QSq8A8lgwq
— Geoffrey Clark (@gfclark89) December 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/lisabraun/status/939924648250232832
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants at MetLife Stadium
Hanging out here at @MLStadium with our great partners from Solutions Center for the Giants vs Cowboys game! pic.twitter.com/iOp08Jvz2o
— Ralph Gonzalez (@RG_NewEngland) December 10, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bch-KDkFpDZ/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bch-eZ0D8Mw/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bch_GAvBbGw/
Liebe Grüße aus dem MetLife Stadium! Bestes Football Wetter! @Icke41 #ranNFLsuechtig pic.twitter.com/zCjarsakxU
— Pascal Richter (@pasric77) December 10, 2017
All set @MLStadium @giants @dallascowboys @WFAN660 1pm EST. Big thanks #teamsaks @saks @JackVictorStyle #saks_privatebrands pic.twitter.com/PI8WAssrvo
— Bob Papa (@BobPapa_NFL) December 10, 2017
Giants quarterback Eli Manning receives a standing ovation as he snaps the ball. Many empty seats can be seen in the footage below.
.@MLStadium gives Eli Manning a standing ovation as he takes his first snap as starter of the New York @Giants (second stint). pic.twitter.com/gLMUlNGSXG
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) December 10, 2017
My team isn’t playing, but I’m happy to be in MetLife Stadium supporting #Eli #Manning #NFL #Giants pic.twitter.com/CeVSo2vbV3
— Sarah E. Younger (@seyitsme) December 10, 2017
Third quarter and empty seats are everywhere!
Giants fans fired up for the return of Eli Manning pic.twitter.com/y2EbYXvow5
— Dan McDowell (@bracketdan) December 10, 2017