According to a report by Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the attendance for the final two Falcons home games of the 2018 season was considerably lower than the figures announced. The article states the team announced that over 72,000 fans attended those games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The actual average was closer to 58,500.
According to Tucker, “The discrepancy came to light through attendance figures provided to the Georgia World Congress Center Authority for December events at the stadium.”
It’s not hard to imagine why some Atlanta fans chose to stay at home for these games. The Falcons had a three-game losing streak going into the early-December meeting with the Ravens. They lost 26-16 despite four Baltimore fumbles and holding rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson to 125 passing yards.
When Atlanta returned for the home finale against Arizona, that losing streak had been pushed to five. The Falcons easily beat the Cardinals 40-14, but that was the worst team in the league last season.
NFL games weren’t the only events that had the attendance numbers bumped, though. Tucker reports a variety of events at the stadium had the same attendance inflation.
“For events ranging from Falcons games to college football games to the MLS Cup championship match, the figures provided to the GWCCA, which has an oversight role over the stadium, were lower than the attendance announced at the events.”
