As sports leagues around the world stage events without fans, the clock is ticking on the scheduled start of the NFL’s 2020 season. And if the coronavirus pandemic dictates empty stadiums in the fall, that would put a significant dent in team revenues.
According to Forbes.com, the NFL would lose more than $5.5 billion in revenue if games are played without spectators. The financial magazine reported that figure is what teams grossed from tickets, concessions, sponsors, parking and team stores during the 2018 season. That number surely would have been higher in 2020, particularly because three teams are scheduled to move into new stadiums.
According to Forbes, 38% of the NFL’s revenue comes from stadiums. That is a significant figure, but it also reinforces why playing in front of no fans (but on television) is still highly profitable.
The stadium revenue of each NFL team will lose if games are played without fans: https://t.co/OvWCIA32bG pic.twitter.com/xEp67GLClT
— Forbes (@Forbes) May 18, 2020
Forbes reported the Pittsburgh Steelers made $156 million from games at Heinz Field in 2018. That is just below the league average but exactly at its mean (tied for 15th with the Seattle Seahawks).
Per Forbes, 35.5% of the Steelers’ total 2018 revenue of $439 million came from stadium tickets, concessions, sponsors, parking and team stores.
Heinz Field brings the Steelers more revenue than their AFC North rivals’ stadiums. The Baltimore Ravens in 2018 grossed $153 million from M&T Bank Stadium, the Cleveland Browns $113 million from FirstEnergy Stadium and the Cincinnati Bengals $99 million from Paul Brown Stadium.
The Bengals ranked 30th in 2018. They likely would have fallen to last in stadium revenue this season. The two teams that finished below them (Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders) were moving into new facilities.
John Steigerwald: The big question is will fans be allowed to attend the games?
If not, the @NFL should forget it. Write off the 2020 season. https://t.co/Qvg5KUfVKr— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 11, 2020
Allegheny County is in the “yellow’ phase of re-opening, per orders from Gov. Tom Wolf. Neither organized sports nor large gatherings are permitted until the state deems the county “green.” There is no indication when this could happen.
Forbes last year valued the Steelers at $2.585 billion. The NFL and its teams repeatedly have declined comment after Forbes annually publishes its valuations.
