What's with the Lions' Attendance?

[South Pender]

Two games ago, 19,000 fans for Calgary in an important game. Last night, 17,000 for Ottawa. In contrast, Edmonton, the worst team in the West, losing their 15th in a row at home, got 24,000 out for today's game against Montreal. Poor marketing or just no real interest in football here?

[South Pender]

...

[DanoT]

Two games ago, 19,000 fans for Calgary in an important game. Last night, 17,000 for Ottawa. In contrast, Edmonton, the worst team in the West losing their 15th in a row at home, got 24,000 out for today's game against Montreal.

So, you're saying football is a bigger attraction in Deadmonton than in Vancouver. Who knew?

[South Pender]

Two games ago, 19,000 fans for Calgary in an important game. Last night, 17,000 for Ottawa. In contrast, Edmonton, the worst team in the West losing their 15th in a row at home, got 24,000 out for today's game against Montreal.

So, you're saying football is a bigger attraction in Deadmonton than in Vancouver. Who knew?

Right, but I didn't know just how big the difference is. Lions a winning team with a good shot at 2nd place in the West, and the Elks, with 4 wins and dead last. It's not just Edmonton. It would seem that we get fewer fans out than all other teams in the CFL except for Toronto.

[Qman]

Two games ago, 19,000 fans for Calgary in an important game. Last night, 17,000 for Ottawa. In contrast, Edmonton, the worst team in the West, losing their 15th in a row at home, got 24,000 out for today's game against Montreal. Poor marketing or just no real interest in football here?

Edmonton hasn’t had over 10000 people at a game this season. Butts in seats, not the made up number.

[cromartie]

Attendance is down, in every sport, everywhere. COVID saw to it that in person attendance will be a slow recovery overall.

The TV numbers are what matter, honestly.

What really matters is the season after you win. Not while you're winning.

[SammyGreene]

When you have a low season ticket base you are extremely vulnerable to poor crowds. Lions sit around 5,000-6,000 after taking zero momentum into this season so huge walk up crowds are needed when pro sports teams are up against sky high inflation. Rourke's injury and subsequent poor performances at the last two home games haven't helped either.

It's encouraging they are making a big effort to build their season ticket base in 2023.

[Hambone]

I prefer to compare 2022 attendances to 2019 as it was the last season played under normal pre-Covid restrictions. Thanks to the One Republic effect on the season opener the Lions are up over 2000 per game. Arbitrarily adjusting that season opener to 17500 and BC's 2022 ave attendance is on par with 2019 which makes them better off than everybody but Winnipeg.

Here's the averages as of today sorted by net change 2022 vs 2019 with 2019 ave in brackets:
WPG - 29562 (25414) +4148
BCL - 19900 (17803) +2097 (NOTE: Change opener to 17500 and 2022 ave is 17828 for diff of 25
TOR - 11805 (12493) -688
HAM - 22123 (23271) -1148
OTT - 20531 (22605) -2074
SSK - 27461 (30723) -3262
CGY - 23622 (27016) -3394
EDM - 23572 (29341) -5769

When it comes to Winnipeg of course they are feeding off back-to-back GC wins and are obviously favoured to 3-peat. Also they never had to deal with capacity restrictions in 2021.

[B.C.FAN]

I’m not sure that announced attendance figures are always accurate. From my vantage point in the end zone, this season’s average attendance looks bigger than that of past years. In particular, there seem to be more people on the south sideline opposite the TV cameras and in the corners of the end zone. In a post-COVID spectator environment, the Lions aren’t doing badly.

[David]

Two games ago, 19,000 fans for Calgary in an important game. Last night, 17,000 for Ottawa. In contrast, Edmonton, the worst team in the West, losing their 15th in a row at home, got 24,000 out for today's game against Montreal. Poor marketing or just no real interest in football here?

Don't put any stock in what you read for attendance numbers coming out of Calgary or Edmonton. If we're talking 'bums in seats' we're far ahead of Edmonton and, I would argue, not far off Calgary. Their seating configuration is mostly between the goal lines. Upper corners are almost always empty and occupied seats between the 20s are consistently 'patchy.'

Being a Lions' season ticket holder, I would say there is far greater seating density this year than in the last five (tarping off some east end zone seats was a smart move). Depending on the Lions' result next week, I believe there is a better-than-even chance of getting 20,000+ for the home season finale vs the Bombers.


DH

[Hambone]

There isn't a team in sports who announces bums in the seats. All announce paid attendance. Basically season ticket count plus single game sales whether the ticket holder entered the building or not. Promotional tickets handed out are likely included as well whether they are used or not.

[Toppy Vann]

I’m not sure that announced attendance figures are always accurate. From my vantage point in the end zone, this season’s average attendance looks bigger than that of past years. In particular, there seem to be more people on the south sideline opposite the TV cameras and in the corners of the end zone. In a post-COVID spectator environment, the Lions aren’t doing badly.

How come when I went to buy end zone or corner seats for the Calgary game online there was not much choice but when we got to the game there were lots of empty seats in corners close to end zone?

[B.C.FAN]

I’m not sure that announced attendance figures are always accurate. From my vantage point in the end zone, this season’s average attendance looks bigger than that of past years. In particular, there seem to be more people on the south sideline opposite the TV cameras and in the corners of the end zone. In a post-COVID spectator environment, the Lions aren’t doing badly.

How come when I went to buy end zone or corner seats for the Calgary game online there was not much choice but when we got to the game there were lots of empty seats in corners close to end zone?

That's frustrating. I've noticed that the Lions hold back tickets from sale. Many times I've tried to buy extra seats near me in the end zone and found nothing available. Then I get to the game and find plenty of empty seats. No-shows account for some of that but other seats were never available for sale.

[MacNews]

Poor marketing or just no real interest in football here?

The Lions haven't had a winning culture for, what, 10+ years? Even the Canucks attendance falls off a cliff once they stop winning Presidents Trophy.

The motto of the Vancouver fan is "Undefeated, or bust".

[mightybuck]

Ticket sales and empty seats down in USA games as well