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The NFL is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. They have massive fan bases, high viewership and generally packed stadiums every Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights. However, despite the overwhelming popularity of the sport, there have been instances where NFL games saw low attendance.
These games usually have a high variety of reasons, such as weather conditions, teams relocating, the significance of the game and the teams playing. Here are the five lowest-attended regular season games in NFL history outside the COVID-19 season.
The 1996 matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Oilers is the fifth lowest-attended game in NFL history, drawing just 20,082 fans. This game occurred shortly after the NFL expansion that brought the Ravens to Baltimore. As such, the team was still in the process of building its fanbase. Baltimore had lost its former team, the Colts, in 1984, and the Ravens’ debut season didn’t have the level of excitement that would later follow as the team grew into its identity.
On top of that, the Houston Oilers were in their final seasons before relocating to Tennessee and becoming the Titans. The Oilers’ uncertain future may have contributed to a lack of fan enthusiasm, as many did not know whether the franchise would stay in Houston long-term. The Ravens would go on to win that game 29-13.
In 1992, the Indianapolis Colts hosted the New England Patriots in a game that only attracted 19,429 fans. At the time, both teams were far from being the powerhouses they would become in the years to follow. The Colts were struggling, coming off a 1-15 season, and the team had not yet established itself like it did 1990s and 2000s with quarterback Peyton Manning.
The Patriots, on the other hand, were also mediocre during the early ’90s and were far from the dominant force they would later become under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Indianapolis suffered from an outdated stadium (the RCA Dome), which may have contributed to the lack of interest in attending games. The low attendance reflected a general lack of excitement surrounding both teams. The Colts would win that game 6-0, so the fans did not miss much in that contest.
The 1997 game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Oilers (the team’s second season after relocating from Houston) had only 17,737 fans in attendance. This matchup occurred amid a period of transition for both franchises. The Ravens were still struggling to establish a loyal fanbase in Baltimore, which was still upset about the Colts leaving the previous decade.
Meanwhile, the Oilers, who had relocated to Tennessee in 1997, were undergoing a name change, shifting from the Oilers to the Titans the following year. This confusion and transition likely contributed to the lower turnout, as fans were uncertain about the team’s future. It was a weird time in the NFL with a lot of changes, and the Ravens won that game 36-10.
Another game from the 1997 season between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tennessee Oilers, held at Riverfront Stadium, drew a remarkably low crowd, with only 17,077 fans. The Bengals, struggling with a long period of mediocrity in the 1990s, were a team that had little national attention.
The Oilers, during their tumultuous final year in Houston before relocating to Tennessee, were also going through an identity crisis. A combination of factors, including the Oilers’ uncertainty, a lack of star power and the Bengals’ inability to generate excitement, likely led to a dwindling fanbase and an underwhelming turnout for the game. The Oilers went on to dominate that game, winning 30-7.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ 1996 matchup against the Houston Oilers drew the smallest crowd in NFL history, with only 15,131 fans in attendance. This game featured two franchises struggling to gain relevance in the mid-1990s. The Bengals were in the midst of a long period of decline, with no playoff appearances since 1990 and a dwindling fanbase.
As mentioned above, the Oilers were in their final year in Houston and were preparing to relocate to Tennessee. The uncertainty surrounding both teams’ futures, along with the lack of on-field success, likely contributed to the lack of fan interest, resulting in one of the smallest crowds in NFL history. The Bengals came away with the 21-13 win that day.
Dylan has had a love for sports since he was a kid. Four years ago, he decided to dive into the sports content-creating industry specializing in Fantasy Football, NFL and NBA. He has since had his work published on sites that include Fantasy Alarm, Fansided, and Fantasy Six Pack.