Top Menu

Most NFL stadiums will be empty during September play

As we approach the September 10 NFL season opener, teams are still finalizing their plans to allow fans in the stands at the campaign launch. Here’s a list of how teams are handling the situation.

Allowing fans in the stands for the NFL season opener is more than just a team decision: It requires cooperation from state and local officials. Of all the NFL markets, only two states—Florida and Texas­—have cleared the way for larger gatherings, but that doesn’t mean the Florida and Texas teams will be welcoming ticketholders to games, as local officials have already forced the Houston Texans to play their first game in an empty stadium. Here’s a team-by-team listing of the current NFL status:

Arizona Cardinals: No fans in the State Farm Stadium stands for the two games.

Atlanta Falcons: No fans in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium stands for the two September games.

Baltimore Ravens: No fans in the M&T Stadium stands at the beginning of the season; a plan to allow 7,500 fans into the stadium was rejected by state officials.

Buffalo Bills: No fans in the stands for the first two games of the season, per New York State guidelines.

Carolina Panthers: No fans in the stands for the NFL season opener; the Panthers had proposed 12,500.

Chicago Bears: No fans in the Soldier Field stands for the entire 2020 NFL season.

Cincinnati Bengals: No fans in the stands for the September 13 Paul Brown Stadium opener; 6,000 fans will be allowed for Oct. 4 and 25 games.

Cleveland Browns: 6,000 fans allowed for Sept. 17 and 27 games.

Dallas Cowboys: Team officials anticipate limited capacity at AT&T Stadium as the state allows group gatherings, but the specifics have not been announced.

Denver Broncos: The Broncos’ season opener against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High will be played without fans in attendance.

Detroit Lions: No fans in the Ford Field stands for the first two games of the season.

Green Bay Packers: No fans at Lambeau Field until a Nov. 1 match against the Minnesota Vikings, conducting the first two regular-season games with only essential participants.

Houston Texans: No fans in the NRG Stadium opener on Sept. 20, as local officials prohibit gatherings for the foreseeable future.

Indianapolis Colts: 2,500 fans will be allowed at Lucas Oil Stadium for the Sept. 20 opener.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 17,000 fans will be allowed at TIAA Bank Field for the season opener.

Kansas City Chiefs: 17,000 fans will be allowed at Arrowhead Stadium for the NFL season opener.

Las Vegas Raiders: No fans in the Allegiant Stadium stands for the entire season.

Los Angeles Chargers / Los Angeles Rams: The first SoFi Stadium games will be played with no fans in the stands, as the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers will be in an empty stadium indefinitely. The Rams were set to open the stadium on Sept. 13 with a Dallas Cowboys matchup, while the Chargers were set to play their first home game on Sept. 20 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Miami Dolphins: Florida gives the green light to opening Hard Rock Stadium to game attendees, with up to 13,000 fans in the stands.

Minnesota Vikings: No fans in stands at U.S. Bank Stadium for the team’s first two September games, but officials left open the possibility of larger crowds down the road.

New England Patriots: No fans at Gillette Stadium for the first two games of the season after state rejects plans to allow 20 percent capacity to begin the year.

New Orleans Saints: No fans in the stands for the first two games of the season at the Superdome.

New York Giants / New York Jets: No fans at MetLife Stadium for the foreseeable future, as the state of New Jersey has ordered an indefinite shutdown.

Philadelphia Eagles: No fans in the Lincoln Financial Stadium stands for the foreseeable future.

Pittsburgh Steelers: No fans in the stands for the first two games of the season.

San Francisco 49ers: The September 13 opener against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium will be played without fans in attendance.

Seattle Seahawks: No fans in the CenturyLink Field stands for the first three games of the 2020 NFL season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: No fans in the Raymond Stadium stands for the first two games of the season.

Tennessee Titans: No fans in the Nissan Stadium stands for the first game of the 2020 NFL season.

Washington Football Team: No fans in the FedEx Field stands for the entire 2020 season.

, , ,

August Publications