The NFL is still feeling the backlash of the kneeling controversy of two years ago.
This just goes to show how easily a valuable brand can be badly damaged through toxic politics.
The league is kicking off its 100th season and there are an alarming number of empty seats.
Breitbart reports:
Weak1: Seats Still Empty for Several Teams as NFL’s 100th Season Kicks Off
This week starts the NFL’s 100th season, but some teams seem to still be finding a awful lot of empty seats.
As the Cleveland Browns took on — and lost 43-13 to — the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium, for instance, fans took to social media to express their shock at the number of empty seats:
See the tweets below:
Lots of empty seats in Cleveland.
— llipgh (@llipgh) September 8, 2019
I thought @Panthers fans were excited about this season; what’s with all the empty seats in the home opener? 💺 https://t.co/zN3EKkn5eU
— Victor Chimenti (@VicChimenti) September 8, 2019
Looks like a lot of empty seats in Jacksonville
— Rich Marotta (@boxingrich) September 8, 2019
Did the @Jaguars forget to tell anyone they had a season opener today? Lots of empty seats. @EmptySeatsPics
— Hot Take Harold (@Harold_Takes) September 8, 2019
Hard Rock Stadium has a lot of empty seats for the Miami Dolphins season openerhttps://t.co/LrR75EJR6v
— The Big Lead (@thebiglead) September 8, 2019
To be fair, plenty of fans also understand the process (one even told us he’d prefer to wait for Trevor Lawrence).
Still, a lot more empty seats now than a couple hours ago. pic.twitter.com/biK25AOyzI
— Clay Ferraro (@ClayWPLG) September 8, 2019
Ready for kickoff &….a lot of empty seats. It’s Miami. Better things to do.
Ravens v Dolphins on @WJZ 🏈 pic.twitter.com/ZKBPsf386a— Mark Viviano (@MarkWJZ) September 8, 2019
#BALvsMIA RT @TonyCapobianco: That was quick. @[me] pic.twitter.com/uDIlAZXQDX
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) September 8, 2019
Surprisingly, a lot of empty seats here at Bank of America Stadium for Panthers’ opener. pic.twitter.com/vt9Ns6tUhQ
— Joe L. Hughes II (@JoeLHughesII) September 8, 2019
There's nobody in Charlotte to watch Rams/Panthers – even FEWER in Miami to watch Ravens/Dolphins I mean empty seats everywhere you look WTH's going on? This isn't the pre-season is it? Is it too hot outside? People finally over the NFL? This is nuts! #NFLSunday
— Mario R. Núñez (@TpaNativesShow) September 8, 2019
Did the NFL completely ruin their brand?
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