For the past few weeks, NFL teams have been trying to figure out what their stadium’s capacity should be for the coming season, and if the Baltimore Ravens are any indication, it’s starting to look like NFL stadiums that will be mostly empty this year. The Ravens announced on Wednesday that the capacity of the M&T Bank stadium would be set at just 14,000, which is a reduction of 81.3% from the stadium’s normal capacity of around 71,000.
There is also a chance that fans will not be allowed to attend Ravens games, but that decision has yet to be made. Before making a final decision on whether fans will be allowed to watch the games, team president Dick Cass said the Ravens will monitor protocols developed by health experts, government officials and the NFL.
“To provide an adequate level of security for fans who wish to attend games, a reduction in capacity is necessary,” said Cass. “We are disappointed that this disrupts many ticket buyers, but we have an obligation to our fans and our community to keep the M&T Bank stadium as safe as possible.”
The Chiefs and Packers have also announced that the capacity of their stadiums will be significantly reduced, although neither team has given a specific number of capacities like the Ravens. It would not be surprising at all if several teams ended up following in the footsteps of Baltimore by drastically reducing their own stadium capabilities. For the 2020 season, the NFL allows each team to dictate its own capacity this year with the hope that the final number will be based on local health rules and protocols that are in place for the coronavirus pandemic.
One thing that will be interesting to watch is whether a reduced capacity will affect a team’s field advantage. For example, Baltimore has been one of the most difficult places to play in the past two years, with the Ravens dropping 13-3 at home since the start of the 2018 season. However, if there are only 14,000 fans present (or not at all), it will be interesting to see if the Ravens lose their advantage on the field, which could potentially shake things up for bookies trying to score in Vegas.
Even if fans are allowed to attend games, there will still be major differences from previous seasons. One of the biggest differences is that the NFL is considering the possibility of requiring fans to sign a waiver if they want to attend a game.
Whatever happens, no NFL team will have a full stadium in 2020, and that’s because the league has already decided that the first six to eight rows of each building will be blocked with a tarp. All protocols are in place for the safety of supporters, players and team staff.
