How Many Fans Does the NFL Really Have?

A look at how many fans the NFL really has in light of declining ratings and attendance.

Introduction

Since its inception in 1920, the National Football League has been America’s most popular spectator sport. According to a 2017 poll, 37% of Americans said that professional football was their favorite sport to watch, dwarfing the second-place sport of baseball at 10%. But just how many fans does the NFL really have?

One way to measure the NFL’s popularity is by looking at television ratings. In 2018, an average of 16.5 million viewers tuned in to NFL games, down from 17.6 million in 2017 . However, these numbers may not tell the whole story. For one thing, they don’t take into account the fact that many people now watch games online or on their mobile devices . Additionally, they don’t reflect the fact that people may be watching games for reasons other than enjoyment, such as betting on the outcome .

Another way to measure the NFL’s popularity is by looking at attendance figures. In 2018, the average attendance at NFL games was 67,394 , down slightly from 67,737 in 2017 . However, these numbers may also not tell the whole story. For one thing, they don’t take into account the fact that many stadiums now have large screens that allow fans to watch replays and other game footage . Additionally, they don’t reflect the fact that people may be attending games for reasons other than enjoyment , such as business networking or socializing with friends .

Finally , we can look at NFL merchandise sales . In 2018, NFL merchandise sales totaled $4.2 billion , up from $3.8 billion in 2017 . This growth is largely due to increased demand from international markets , as well as a growing trend of NFL fans purchasing products not just for themselves , but also for family and friends .

So what do all these numbers tell us? The answer is complicated. While there is no doubt that the NFL remains highly popular in the United States, it is difficult to say exactly how many fans the league has. Different methods of measurement produce different results , and it is important to consider all factors when making any conclusions .

The NFL’s Claim

The National Football League (NFL) claims to have the support of millions of fans across the United States. But how many of these fans are truly die-hard supporters, and how many are just casual observers?

A recent study sought to answer this question, and the results may surprise you. According to the study, which was conducted by Emory University professor Michael Lewis, the NFL has a total of around 16 million hardcore fans.

This number is much lower than the NFL’s claim of around 60 million fans, but it’s still a significant number nonetheless. And it’s worth noting that these 16 million fans are more than twice as dedicated as fans of any other sport in the country.

So, why does the NFL have such a high number of casual fans? There are a few possible explanations.

Firstly, football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, so it’s not surprising that many people would watch games even if they’re not die-hard fans. Secondly, the NFL is one of the most heavily marketed sports leagues in the world, so there’s a good chance that even people who aren’t particularly interested in football have at least heard of it.

Whatever the reason, it’s clear that the NFL still has a large and loyal following in spite of all its recent problems.

The Contradictory Evidence

The National Football League (NFL) is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the United States, but there is some contradictory evidence about just how many fans it really has.

On one hand, a 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 37% of American adults said they were “very interested” in the NFL – making it the most popular sport in the country.

However, another survey – this one from Gallup – found that only 26% of Americans said they were “very interested” in the NFL, which made it tied for second with basketball (behind baseball at 30%).

So, which one is it? Are there more NFL fans than any other sport, or are there fewer?

The answer, it seems, lies somewhere in between.

It’s true that 37% of Americans said they were very interested in the NFL according to Pew – but that only puts it ahead of basketball by a slim margin. And when you look at other measures – such as TV ratings or ticket sales – basketball actually surpasses the NFL in popularity.

So while there are definitely a lot of NFL fans out there, it’s fair to say that basketball is actually America’s favorite sport.

The Real Number of NFL Fans

This is a question that has been asked time and time again, and there is no one definitive answer. It all depends on how you measure “fans”.

There are a variety of ways to measure the number of fans a team or sport has. One way is to look at television ratings. According to Nielsen, the NFL had an average of 15.8 million viewers per game in 2017, which was down from 16.5 million in 2016. However, this does not take into account people who do not have television access or who choose not to watch football for other reasons.

Another way to measure fans is by looking at ticket sales. In 2017, the NFL sold about 17 million tickets, which was down from about 22 million in 2007. This doesn’t account for people who go to games but don’t buy tickets, or for people who live in areas without an NFL team.

A third way to measure fans is through merchandise sales. The NFL sold about $3.2 billion worth of licensed merchandise in 2017, which was down from $3.6 billion in 2016. This includes items such as jerseys, hats, and t-shirts with team logos on them. It does not include items such as food and drinks sold at stadiums on game days.

So, how many fans does the NFL really have? It’s hard to say for sure, but by any of these measures, it seems safe to say that the number of NFL fans is in the millions.

How the NFL Loses Fans

How the NFL Loses Fans
The National Football League has been embroiled in a number of controversies in recent years, and it appears that the league is starting to lose some of its fans as a result.

According to a recent poll, the NFL’s favorability rating has dropped 10 points since 2014, from 57 percent to 47 percent. The poll also found that the NFL is now less popular than Major League Baseball, which has a favorability rating of 50 percent.

The NFL’s decline in popularity is likely due to a number of factors, including the league’s handling of players who have been accused of domestic violence, its decision to allow players to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality, and its handling of concussions and other health concerns.

As the NFL continues to grapple with these issues, it remains to be seen whether the league will be able to win back its lost fans.

How the NFL Can Win Fans Back

In 2015, the NFL had its lowest TV ratings in years. This caused many to wonder how many fans the NFL really has.

There are a number of reasons why the NFL’s ratings might be down. One reason is that the quality of play has declined in recent years. Another reason is that many fans are turned off by the off-field issues such as domestic violence and concussions.

The good news for the NFL is that there are still a lot of fans out there. In fact, the NFL remains one of the most popular leagues in America. The key for the NFL will be to win back those fans who have become disillusioned with the league.

One way the NFL can win back fans is by improving the quality of play on the field. The league has already taken steps to do this by changing some of its rules to make the game safer and more exciting.

Another way the NFL can win back fans is by addressing its off-field issues head-on. The league has already made some changes in this area, but it needs to do more to show that it is serious about making player safety and well-being a priority.

If the NFL can improve its product on and off the field, it stands a good chance of winning back its lost fans and regaining its place as America’s favorite sport.