FILE – In this Nov. 20, 2011, file photo, an NFL logo is displayed on the Ford Field turf before an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers in Detroit. Google has been holding talks with the National Football League, raising speculation that the internet monolith is seeking new inroads into television. With Google sitting on a cash pile of $48 billion, the league’s Sunday Ticket package is easily within its budget. The contract is currently held by DirecTV, but it expires at the end of the 2014 season. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Like other sports, the NFL has had to play games in front of either empty seats or just a few thousand fans.
And it’s costing the league billions. According to a study from Chicago-based firm Team Marketing Report, the league will absorb a $2.7 billion loss from the lack of live fans.
That number was based on a ‘Fan Cost Index’ of $553 for a family of four – factoring in tickets, parking, food, and merch sales.
How much do you typically spend at an NFL game?