Although the NBA and the NHL finished their seasons in empty stadiums, and Major League Baseball played its regular season without fans, the NFL has left it up to teams to decide whether to have people in attendance based on their local and state rules and regulations. Some NFL teams will not have any fans this season, or at least until there is a notable change in circ*mstances surrounding the coronavirus. Most announced they wouldn’t have fans for the first few games of the season but hadn’t committed to a set plan beyond that. A few others, like the Washington Football Team, have used the evolving guidelines to reshape their policies.
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Washington initially ruled out having fans in attendance this season, but based on conversations with health authorities in Maryland and Prince George’s County, that decision has been relaxed. The team is allowing up to 3,250 fans, primarily season ticket holders, to watch the game against the New York Giants in person on Nov. 8, provided they follow health and safety protocols.
“We take our responsibility to protect our staff, players, fans and the community seriously,” team president Jason Wright said in a statement. “Since the beginning of the season, we worked in close coordination with Prince George’s County health officials to monitor and assess the possibility of welcoming fans. We are thrilled to host some of our Season Ticket Members at the Giants game on Nov. 8 and hope to welcome more fans through the FedEx Field gates in the near future.”
Where do the teams stand on having fans in attendance? Let’s look at their decisions, starting with those that have not allowed fans for at least one game this season.
(Note: This story will be updated.)
Teams that have started allowing fans
Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals will allow up to 4,200 season ticket holders for their next two home games, Nov. 8 against the Dolphins and Nov. 15 against the Bills, according to recommendations from the Arizona Department of Health Services. They did not have fans at their first two home games but opened State Farm Stadium to 1,200 fans for their “Sunday Night Football” game against the Seahawks on Oct. 25.
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons, who developed a plan to have fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium before the season began, have allowed them since their Week 5 home game against the Panthers on Oct. 11. So far, there have been no more than 10,000 in attendance. The Oct. 25 game against the Lions had a listed attendance of 7,796.
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Baltimore Ravens: After permitting about 250 friends and family members to attend their previous two home dates, the Ravens allowed just over 4,000 fans into M&T Bank Stadium to watch the Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 1. They hope that number may grow a bit for future home dates, but that’s not assured.
Carolina Panthers: Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Sept. 22 that large sports venues can host fans at 7 percent of capacity, so the Panthers welcomed 5,240 fans into Bank of America Stadium, which seats 74,867 people, beginning with their Week 4 game against Arizona. “We have worked for months to develop and implement a responsible and comprehensive plan for the return of fans and we are confident that it will ensure that the game-day experience is enjoyable and as safe as possible,” the team said in a statement earlier this season.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals did not have any fans at their Week 1 home opener, but they allowed 6,000 fans into the stadium for their next home game, Oct. 4 against the Jaguars. The Ohio Department of Health upped the limit to 12,000 spectators for the Bengals’ two most recent games, Oct. 25 against the Browns and Nov. 1 versus the Titans, but the crowd was in the 9,000 range because of what the team said was adherence to social distancing guidelines.
Cleveland Browns: The Browns originally allowed 6,000 fans into FirstEnergy Stadium for their first two games but, following discussions with the Ohio Department of Health, were able to increase their attendance to 12,000 beginning with their Week 5 game against the Colts on Oct. 11.
Dallas Cowboys: AT&T Stadium has had roughly 25,000 fans in attendance for Cowboys home games, the most in the NFL.
“We will have our challenges,” owner Jerry Jones said before the season. “The people that will be there will be there at their own volition, just as the players that are on this field out here for the Cowboys are here because they have chosen to be here. Our fans will be in the stadium because they have chosen to be there. … I’m confident that we’ve got a very educated situation, and that our fans can come and have a safe experience at our stadium along with, of course, our players having the safety they’re required on the football field.”
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Denver Broncos: The Broncos have been approved to welcome at least 5,700 fans, which they first did for their Week 3 game against the Buccaneers, for the remainder of the season. The city recently enacted stricter rules, but the Broncos will be allowed to operate under a state variance approved by Gov. Jared Polis.
Houston Texans: Since Week 4, the Texans have allowed up to 13,300 fans at NRG Stadium for games. That’s about 20 percent of the venue’s capacity.
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts have slowly ramped up attendance at Lucas Oil Stadium. They allowed 2,500 fans for the Week 2 home opener against the Vikings on Sept. 20 and 7,500 fans for the Week 3 game against the Jets, then permitted 12,500 fans to be in the stadium beginning with their next home game, the Week 6 meeting with the Bengals on Oct. 18.
We will host up to 12,500 fans for our Week 11 game against the Packers on Nov. 22.
Single-game tickets will go on sale tomorrow at 10AM ET.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 1, 2020
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have capped seating at TIAA Bank Field at 25 percent of capacity, which is just shy of 17,000 fans, since the season began.
Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs will continue to allow Arrowhead Stadium to be filled to 22 percent capacity, or about 16,000 fans, which they have done since the Week 1 opener against the Texans on Sept. 10.
Miami Dolphins: Attendance has been capped at 13,000 since the home opener in Week 2 and the Dolphins will continue to abide by that guideline.
“When we started the process back in March of exploring what a socially-distanced stadium could look like, we made the health and safety of everyone the first priority; knowing that if we felt that we couldn’t make it safe, we simply wouldn’t have fans,” Dolphins vice chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel said before the season. “We’re happy that our elected officials recognize the attention to detail and diligence that we’ve put into creating a safe environment and that they made the decision to move forward with a 13,000-capacity stadium at this time.”
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New Orleans Saints: The Saints and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell reached an agreement to allow 3,000 fans into the Superdome for their Oct. 25 game against the Panthers, and they will be allowed to have 6,000 fans at their next two home games, Nov. 15 against the 49ers and Nov. 22 against the Falcons. They are planning to host 15,000 fans for their games against the Chiefs on Dec. 20 and the Vikings on Dec. 25.
Although state officials had given their approval for fans to attend games in the Superdome beginning Sept. 27, allowing 750 friends and family members into the building, Cantrell initially disagreed with the plan. That led to the Saints considering moving games to LSU’s Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, where regulations were less strict.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles began allowing fans into Lincoln Financial Field beginning with their Week 6 game against the Ravens on Oct. 18. Attendance is capped at 7,500 people. That includes players, coaches, team and stadium personnel, media and fans.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers opened their doors to fans for the first time for their Week 5 home game against the Eagles on Oct. 11. Although state regulations allow for 7,500 people to fill sporting venues, the team has been capping attendance at 5,500 to account for players, coaches, officials, media and other stadium workers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs did not have any fans in attendance for their first two home games, against the Panthers in Week 2 and the Chargers in Week 4, but have ramped up to a capacity of about 16,000 fans for home games.
Tennessee Titans: The Titans have been limiting Nissan Stadium to 12.5 percent of its capacity, which allowed for roughly 10,000 fans to watch the Week 7 loss to the Steelers on Oct. 25.
Teams that have not yet allowed fans
Buffalo Bills: The Bills have played their first five home games without fans and that doesn’t appear likely to change. “In June, New York State issued COVID-19 guidance to allow professional sports to be played without spectators,” the team said in a statement before the season began. “After much discussion and collaboration with the State and Erie County, those guidelines will remain unchanged for at least our first two home games in 2020. We fully support the New York State’s efforts to keep New Yorkers safe and will continue working together, along with the NFL, to establish policies and procedures that hopefully permit fans later this season. We appreciate your patience and continued support of the Bills. We are working hard to be ready when we can welcome you back to Bills Stadium.”
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Chicago Bears: The Bears have not allowed fans to attend games at Soldier Field this season. “After discussing a draft plan with city healthy officials, the Bears and the city of Chicago agreed the health metrics show that it is not the right time to welcome back fans to Soldier Field,” the Bears said in a statement released before the season. “The health and safety of the city’s residents and fans of the Bears will always take priority. The team and city will continue to monitor the environment and believe there can be a sound plan in place to bring fans back to Soldier Field once it is deemed safe and appropriate.”
Detroit Lions: The Lions allowed 500 friends and family members to be in attendance for the first time during their Week 8 game against the Colts on Nov. 1, but state regulations have not allowed them to exceed that number.
Green Bay Packers: The Packers are not allowing fans into Lambeau Field indefinitely. Packers president Mark Murphy has said that if fans are allowed at any point, he estimates the stadium’s capacity to be 10,000 to 12,000.
“We are hopeful that we will be able to host fans for games later in the season, should conditions allow,” Murphy said. “We will continue to consult with community health care and public health officials on the pandemic conditions in our area. We ask our fans to continue to help by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing guidelines.”
Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders will not change their plans to have zero fans in the stands this season. Owner Mark Davis said the new stadium is sold out and he doesn’t want to tell some fans they can go and others they can’t, or have them pick between games. In a sign of solidarity, Davis is not attending home games this season. He is viewing 2021 as the official, ribbon-cutting, enjoy-the-new-stadium experience for himself and all fans.
Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers: The Rams and Chargers announced before the season that “after careful consideration and discussion with state and local health officials, the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers and SoFi Stadium have announced that Rams and Chargers games will be held without fans in attendance until further notice.” The Rams are allowing fans to visit the team store inside the stadium by appointment.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings did not allow fans into U.S. Bank Stadium for the first three home games because of state rules that prohibit public gatherings of more than 250 people. They did allow family members to attend their home games beginning with their Week 3 game against the Titans on Sept. 27.
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“Over the past several months, we have collaborated with U.S. Bank Stadium partners, the NFL, the State of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis to determine the best way to safely and responsibly host a limited number of fans at Vikings home games,” the team wrote in a statement before the season began. “We have sought to balance the opportunity to provide fan access with the responsibility to adhere to public health and medical guidance in order to maintain the health and safety of fans, players, staff members and the broader community. Ultimately, public health is our top priority. Based on our conversations and the current Minnesota Department of Health guidelines that specify an indoor venue capacity of 250, we have determined it is not the right time to welcome fans back to U.S. Bank Stadium.”
New England Patriots: The Patriots have not allowed fans to attend home games and announced on Nov. 9 that they will not be permitted to enter this season.
New York Giants and New York Jets: Neither team has permitted fans into MetLife Stadium. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced on July 20 that “continued concerns for the health and safety of fans, team members, and staff dictates that our executive order limiting outdoor gatherings does apply to sporting events, including training camp.”
Joint Statement from the Giants and Jets pic.twitter.com/e8MGmXpimv
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 20, 2020
“We will continue to closely monitor the public health reality and work with health experts to determine how to move forward, and we will continue to work closely with the teams as conditions change,” Murphy said. “Like all fans across New Jersey, I look forward to watching our teams play from home and plan to be there in person to support the teams when it is safe to do so.”
The Giants and Jets supported the decision and said they’ll play without fans “until circ*mstances change,” which leaves the door open for fans at some point this season.
San Francisco 49ers: Although the state will allow outdoor sporting venues to operate at 20 percent capacity, the Santa Clara County public health department has not approved fans to attend games at Levi’s Stadium. Team and county officials have been discussing plans to allow them to do so.
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks have not had fans at their home games, a policy that will continue indefinitely.
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Washington Football Team: Washington allowed a maximum of 250 family members for its Week 5 and Week 7 games following discussions with Maryland and Prince George’s County officials. It will have up to 3,250 fans, primarily season ticket holders, for the Week 9 home game against the Giants on Nov. 8.
(Photo of Lucas Oil Stadium: Colin Boyle / USA Today)
