Despite threat of boycott, attendance increases at Sunday NFL games

NFL Thanksgiving Primetime Ratings Crash by 10 Percent

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The Associated Press

by DYLAN GWINN24 Nov 20171,630

Black Friday will have different meanings to different people this year, for 99.9 percent of American businesses it will be a day when profits soar and businesses finish the year strong.
For the NFL, it will be the day they received yet another reminder that they’re doing the opposite of those things.

In what has become a consistent pattern for the league this year, the NFL put a bad product on the field, insulted the country with another protest by a privileged millionaire, and got a bad television rating. Thanksgiving’s primetime clash between the Redskins and the Giants registered a 9.7 in metered markets, down 10 percent from last year.

While the game stayed steady with last week’s Thursday night match-up, that isn’t really good news for the NFL either. Since, a Thanksgiving Day match-up in primetime absolutely should net a much larger audience than a random Thursday primetime before Thanksgiving.

Though NBC won primetime overall, a not surprising occurrence given that the network which hosts the NFL normally does win in primetime, CBS saw some big increases.

According to Deadline Hollywood, “Coming off the L.A. Chargers 28-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the late afternoon, CBS put an almost full slate up last night with Young Sheldon(2.6/11), Mom (1.8/7), Life In Pieces (1.3/5) and S.W.A.T. (1.1/4). That’s a 30% rise over last week’s final numbers for the Big Bang Theory prequel and the best Young Sheldon has done on a Thursday night so far. As for the other trio of CBS offerings, they were up 28%, 18% and 22% respectively.

“Playing the long game, the House of Moonves is proudly flying the flag that compared to Thanksgiving Day 2016, last night saw rises of 48% in viewers and 64% in the key demo for the network.”

The NFL is still on top in the television world, but the distance between them and the rest of the pack is shrinking, quickly.
 
Empty Seats Aplenty for the NFL on ‘Thursday Night Football’
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AP Photo/Roger Steinman

by DYLAN GWINN1 Dec 20174,863

The Week 13 edition of Thursday Night Football match-up between the Redskins and the Cowboys, featured two division rivals with matching records and slim, but palpable playoff aspirations.
Yet, judging by the attendance in Dallas, you never would have guessed that.

Proof of that is found in a series of tweets collected by The Big Lead. Here are shots of the “crowd,” at kickoff:

View image on Twitter
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https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/936408770888065026
Darren Rovell

✔@darrenrovell


Better picture of seats open in Dallas for the opening possession tonight.

8:37 PM - Nov 30, 2017

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https://twitter.com/lizclarketweet/status/936406826068992006
Liz Clarke

✔@lizclarketweet


Either a late-arriving crowd (7:30 pm kickoff) or #Dallas fans irked. AT&T Stadium @ kickoff. White seats=empty.

8:29 PM - Nov 30, 2017

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The next tweet pic, taken in the middle of the first quarter, answers the question of whether the crowd was merely “late-arriving,” or “irked:”

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https://twitter.com/michaelpRTD/status/936410409837498368
michael phillips@michaelpRTD

Midway through the first quarter and a lot of folks are sitting this one out.

8:43 PM - Nov 30, 2017

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https://twitter.com/PatDoneyNBC5/status/936407144546623495
Pat Doney

✔@PatDoneyNBC5


There are quite a few empty seats in AT&T Stadium right now...
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@NBCDFW

8:30 PM - Nov 30, 2017

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A primetime NFL game between two of the oldest rivals in sports, in normal years, would be the hottest ticket in town. Instead, it’s starting to look like the NFL can’t give these things away.
 
Empty Seats Aplenty for the NFL on ‘Thursday Night Football’
13878

AP-Roger-Steinman.png

AP Photo/Roger Steinman

by DYLAN GWINN1 Dec 20174,863

The Week 13 edition of Thursday Night Football match-up between the Redskins and the Cowboys, featured two division rivals with matching records and slim, but palpable playoff aspirations.
Yet, judging by the attendance in Dallas, you never would have guessed that.

Proof of that is found in a series of tweets collected by The Big Lead. Here are shots of the “crowd,” at kickoff:

View image on Twitter
DP7Kyv6WkAEqdZ0.jpg:small

Darren Rovell

✔@darrenrovell


Better picture of seats open in Dallas for the opening possession tonight.

8:37 PM - Nov 30, 2017

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View image on Twitter
DP7JC5eXcAExvUW.jpg:small

Liz Clarke

✔@lizclarketweet


Either a late-arriving crowd (7:30 pm kickoff) or #Dallas fans irked. AT&T Stadium @ kickoff. White seats=empty.

8:29 PM - Nov 30, 2017

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The next tweet pic, taken in the middle of the first quarter, answers the question of whether the crowd was merely “late-arriving,” or “irked:”

View image on Twitter
DP7MS9cVAAAgxlR.jpg:small

michael phillips@michaelpRTD

Midway through the first quarter and a lot of folks are sitting this one out.

8:43 PM - Nov 30, 2017

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View image on Twitter
DP7JU-0X0AEXM3i.jpg:small

Pat Doney

✔@PatDoneyNBC5


There are quite a few empty seats in AT&T Stadium right now...
1f440.png
@NBCDFW

8:30 PM - Nov 30, 2017

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A primetime NFL game between two of the oldest rivals in sports, in normal years, would be the hottest ticket in town. Instead, it’s starting to look like the NFL can’t give these things away.



AT&T stadium holds 100,000+ and it used to be capacity or near capacity crowds every game just a few years ago. And they have one of the highest ticket prices in the league. Got to be driving jerry jones crazy.

The real test will be next year's season ticket sales. They already had their season tickets when it all went to pot in week 3 this year.
 
Weak 15: Ratings Crashing, Players Kneeling, and Fans Leaving Empty Seats In Stadiums Everywhere
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AP Photo/Tony Avelar

by WARNER TODD HUSTON17 Dec 20172,675

Despite the NFL’s promise to spend nearly $90 million to promote “social justice” campaigns, players are still kneeling in protest against the country during the playing of the national anthems, and along with the protests, the league’s TV ratings are still cratering.
Plus, as we’ve seen all season, fans are avoiding the NFL by refusing to attend games in person as well, leaving tens of thousands of empty seats in stadiums all across the nation.

As the Cleveland Browns took on the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium, empty red-backed seats called out to the cameras testifying to a dearth of fans all over the facility.

View image on Twitter
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https://twitter.com/Reflog_18/status/942480959173251078
McNeil

✔@Reflog_18


Beginning of the second half. Traffic to the stadium must’ve been bad today.

2:45 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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https://twitter.com/Sean_CecilWhig/status/942455822793273344
Sean Grogan@Sean_CecilWhig

Plenty of empty seats in Cleveland today.

1:05 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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https://twitter.com/JaycrawfordCLE/status/942459880321028097
Jay Crawford

✔@JaycrawfordCLE


What 1-28 looks like. #factoryofsadness #browns

1:22 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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Even MSNBC’s own Hugh Hewitt jumped to Twitter to remark on the sad state of affairs in Cleveland.

https://twitter.com/hughhewitt/status/942459386542415882
Hugh Hewitt

✔@hughhewitt


Hmmm. Lots of empty seats at #FirstEnergy. Disappointing @Browns fans.

1:20 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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Cleveland lost in attendance and in points, taking a knee to the Ravens in a 27-10 final.

Perhaps with a bit better attendance than Cleveland, the Washington Redskins beat the Cardinals at home in FedEx Field in a 20-15 final, but Redskin fans didn’t come out in force.

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https://twitter.com/dcsportsbog/status/942455259942834176
Dan Steinberg

✔@dcsportsbog


Bearing in mind that it's typically a late arriving crowd....

1:03 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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8h
Dan Steinberg

✔@dcsportsbog

Bearing in mind that it's typically a late arriving crowd.... pic.twitter.com/S02HJTP8Uk

https://twitter.com/dcsportsbog/status/942458484624449536
Dan Steinberg

✔@dcsportsbog


This is a better shot at kickoff. Seems to be filling in pic.twitter.com/noXBOO5WXl

1:16 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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https://twitter.com/WayneTerp/status/942461104206286849
wayne viener@WayneTerp

Late 1st quarter, not much better crowd as Redskins lead Cards 7-3 at FedEx Field #httr

1:26 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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https://twitter.com/Chuckrapp73/status/942475375497699329
Chuck Rapp@Chuckrapp73

@EmptySeatsPics Redskins-Cardinals, mid 1st quarter

2:23 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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The Philadelphia Eagles traveled to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants and won, beating the New Yorkers 34-29. But, not as many fans as the Giants would have liked made the trek to the stadium.

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https://twitter.com/ebo_harvey/status/942469680815661056
Ian@ebo_harvey

Loving being at @Giants @MLStadium #GiantsPride#GiantsNation

2:00 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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6h
Terrence Maguire@Terry_M_Maguire
@EmptySeatsPics @Giants fans fed up at 2nd half kickoff!! #FlyEaglesFly

https://twitter.com/Terry_M_Maguire/status/942484154251468801
Terrence Maguire@Terry_M_Maguire

pic.twitter.com/Blk3N3SvLz

2:58 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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https://twitter.com/JoePangaro/status/942460786538172417
Joseph J Pangaro@JoePangaro

Lots of empty seats 10 mins into the game at giants stadium today... and tons of eagles fans. @EmptySeatsPics

1:25 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers announced that this weekend’s game against the Green Bay Packers at Bank of America Stadium was a sell out. While those seats may have all been paid for, there were plenty of empty seats filling Twitter. At least the Panthers won in a 31-24 final.

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https://twitter.com/kathyanderson22/status/942467741843410944
Kathy Anderson@kathyanderson22

Just announced a sellout. Funny looking sellout with all the empty seats. Never see that at @LambeauField #GBvsCAR @packers#GoPackGo

1:53 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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https://twitter.com/BigHalNunn/status/942474254255316992
BigHal Nunn@BigHalNunn

Nice View Huh ? #GBvsCAR

2:19 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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Finally, at EverBank Field, the Jacksonville Jaguars swamped the Houston Texans 45-7, but photos of the stadium show a lot of empty seats.

https://twitter.com/chrishandjax/status/942473300172787712
Chris Hand@chrishandjax

Always great to be @EverBankField watching the @Jaguars play -- especially when they are taking an #AFCSouth rival to school. #Sacksonville

2:15 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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https://twitter.com/kevpga63/status/942470936732762113
Kevin Glynn@kevpga63

1st qtr in Jax. Nobody wants to sit in upper deck anymore! Team says sellout (Throat clearing). @EmptySeatsPics

2:05 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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PHILL-DreamKingFilmz@dreamkingfilmz

#Jaguars 21 #Texans 0 bottom Q2

2:23 PM - Dec 17, 2017
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Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
 
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