Mike Ozanian of Forbes offered a grim image of what the NFL would look like if the league decides to play games in empty stadiums. Overall, Ozanian estimates the NFL will lose $5.5 billion this season if they play their entire season without fans in the seats.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ozanian estimates based on 2018 revenue figures, the Steelers stand to lose $156 million in stadium revenue and $439 million overall.
If these numbers seem massive, it is because they are. But the real money for the NFL is in the TV Contracts. Those account for nearly 60 of the NFL’s total revenue. Nevertheless, being short several billion dollars isn’t something the NFL wants to deal with.
It is hard to imagine the Steelers will be playing any games without fans present. And if they do, it is highly unlikely it is for anything more than perhaps the preseason and a few early regular-season games.
