Teams in the National Football League (NFL) could lose a combined US$5.5 billion in stadium revenue if the 2020 season is played behind closed doors, according to Forbes.
Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the new NFL campaign is still scheduled to get underway in September. But concerns remain over whether fans will be able to attend games, which will result in a sharp loss of income across ticket sales, parking, sponsors, food and drink, and souvenir sales.
According to Forbes, empty stadiums will result in teams losing 38 per cent in combined revenue compared to the 2018 season, the latest from which figures are openly available.
The Dallas Cowboys – ranked by Forbes as the world’s most valuable sports team – will apparently be hit hardest, and could stand to lose US$621 million in stadium income from total revenue of US$950 million. The Cowboys’ projected loss is more than the total revenue of any other NFL franchise. In addition, the New England Patriots could miss out on US$315 million, with the New York Giants sitting at US$262 million. For the three teams, the figures equate to more than half their total revenue.
Further down Forbes' list, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who sit 24th, show US$119 million in lost revenue from a US$400 million total. The team would have been expecting a major boost in ticket sales and associated income after signing NFL icon Tom Brady from the Patriots this year.
The two bottom teams on the Forbes ranking, the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders, are set to move into new venues – SoFi Stadium and Allegiant Stadium respectively – and were set for substantial increases in gameday income as a result.
The Raiders could be without US$77 million in lost revenue from a league-low US$357 million total. However, it is worth noting that these figures came when the team was based in Oakland before the move to its new US$1.8 billion home.
Likewise, the Chargers – second worst in the report with US$93 million in lost revenue from a US$375 million total – are set to switch to the still-to-be-completed US$5 billion SoFi Stadium.
The Los Angeles Rams, 22nd in the standings, are set to drop US$121 million off total revenue of US$401 million, and are also making the move to the same venue alongside the Chargers.
Additionally, a season without supporters would hit players’ pockets too. In March, the league agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that allocated 47 per cent of football-related income to the players in 2020 and 48 per cent in 2021.
Teams in the National Football League (NFL) could lose a combined US$5.5 billion in stadium revenue if the 2020 season is played behind closed doors, according to Forbes.
Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the new NFL campaign is still scheduled to get underway in September. But concerns remain over whether fans will be able to attend games, which will result in a sharp loss of income across ticket sales, parking, sponsors, food and drink, and souvenir sales.
According to Forbes, empty stadiums will result in teams losing 38 per cent in combined revenue compared to the 2018 season, the latest from which figures are openly available.
The Dallas Cowboys – ranked by Forbes as the world’s most valuable sports team – will apparently be hit hardest, and could stand to lose US$621 million in stadium income from total revenue of US$950 million. The Cowboys’ projected loss is more than the total revenue of any other NFL franchise. In addition, the New England Patriots could miss out on US$315 million, with the New York Giants sitting at US$262 million. For the three teams, the figures equate to more than half their total revenue.
Further down Forbes' list, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who sit 24th, show US$119 million in lost revenue from a US$400 million total. The team would have been expecting a major boost in ticket sales and associated income after signing NFL icon Tom Brady from the Patriots this year.
The two bottom teams on the Forbes ranking, the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders, are set to move into new venues – SoFi Stadium and Allegiant Stadium respectively – and were set for substantial increases in gameday income as a result.
The Raiders could be without US$77 million in lost revenue from a league-low US$357 million total. However, it is worth noting that these figures came when the team was based in Oakland before the move to its new US$1.8 billion home.
Likewise, the Chargers – second worst in the report with US$93 million in lost revenue from a US$375 million total – are set to switch to the still to be completed US$5 billion SoFi Stadium.
The Los Angeles Rams, 22nd in the standings, are set to drop US$121 million off total revenue of US$401 million, and are also making the move to the same venue alongside the Chargers.
Additionally, a season without supporters would hit players’ pockets too. In March, the league agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that allocated 47 per cent of football-related income to the players in 2020 and 48 per cent in 2021.
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