• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 22, 2025

NFL Dominated Viewership in 2023—and Also Packed ’em In

  • League sees improvement in overall attendance and as a percentage of stadium capacities.
  • Initial international game assignments are made.
Detroit Free Press

The NFL’s 2023 resurgence wasn’t just on television—it was at the stadium gates as well. 

As the league boosted its average per-game viewership by 7%, the 2023 regular season also saw a slight bump in attendance from last season’s 18.8 million to 18.9 million. Perhaps more meaningfully, no NFL team distributed less than 93% of its available tickets, a marked reversal from 2021, when eight teams were below that threshold, in part due to the pandemic. 

The league’s two biggest attendance stories in 2023 were arguably the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders. The Lions used fan frenzy surrounding their first division title in 30 years to establish the first ticket waiting list in Ford Field history and post an average attendance capacity percentage of 100.6, seventh-best in the league. The Commanders grew per-game attendance 10% to an average of 63,951, and under new team owner Josh Harris they began to bring some energy back to FedEx Field, for years a haven for visiting fans. 

Given that the NFL receives about $10 billion per year combined from its five primary domestic media partners, attendance is less critical than it is to other leagues, but it still represents a meaningful indicator of the league’s health. The upward movement also joins an attendance trend seen by many other leagues in 2023.

International Assignments

As the NFL’s global ambitions continue to grow, the league has announced its designated home team assignments for four of its 2024 international games. The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Jacksonville Jaguars will each play games in London next season, while the Carolina Panthers will play in Munich. Each team’s opponent and game date will be unveiled when the 2024 NFL schedule is released in the spring.

The placement of the Bears, Vikings, and Panthers in international games is part of a recently expanded NFL rotation of international appearances, fueled in part by a 2024 schedule in which NFC teams will each have a ninth home game in the 17-game slate. International game inventory is typically pulled from those “extra” home games.

The Jaguars are continuing their separate agreement to play in London each year.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBC Made Its NBA Return Feel Big

From the nostalgia to Jordan getting personal, NBC hit the right chords.

NFL Wants to Expand International Slate, Will Evaluate Saudi Arabia

The league is evaluating a mix of new and existing markets for 2026.
Netflix

Netflix Staying on the Sidelines As TNT Sports Parent Seeks Buyer

The streaming giant shows little interest in acquisition possibilities.

The NBA’s $77B Future Starts Tonight 

Seven 2025 NBA All-Stars will miss the start of the season.

Featured Today

Christie's

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.

After Heavy Pushback, LaLiga’s Controversial Miami Match Canceled

Hard Rock Stadium was set to host Barcelona-Villarreal on Dec. 20.
October 20, 2025

Blue Jays $280M Payroll Pays Off With a Trip to the World..

Toronto is back in the Fall Classic for the first time in 32 years.
October 21, 2025

The AWS Outage Wreaked Havoc in Sports

Ticketmaster, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Strava all had problems.
Sponsored

Michelle Wie West: Women’s Sports Doesn’t Need Charity

The LPGA legend on redefining women’s sports and the future of golf.
Verstappen
October 20, 2025

ESPN’s Final F1 Season Is Turning Into A Thriller 

F1 is averaging 1.4 million viewers on ESPN networks this year.
IndyCar driver Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood, left, celebrates winning the Detroit Grand Prix with team co-owner Dan Towriss in Detroit on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
October 17, 2025

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss Defends  $700 Million Apple Deal

“We’re going to have a bigger reach than what people think.”
Hansi Flick
October 17, 2025

Barcelona Players, Coach ‘Not Happy’ About Miami Game

La Liga is on the verge of relocating a December match.
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Second place Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) sprays champagne on winner Mercedes driver George Russell (63) at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
October 17, 2025

Apple Officially Taking F1 Rights From ESPN in $700M Deal

ESPN has broadcast F1 in the U.S. since 2018.