The Washington Redskins came into Week 2 with a 1-0 record and a share of the NFC East lead, riding high off a road win featuring new playmakers. They returned home to a freshly-renovated stadium and a chance to go 2-0 for the first time since 2011.
Who cares? Redskins fans don't seem to. Given the opportunity to check out everything shiny about the team at home, fans stayed away.
Today's announced Redskins attendance was 57,013. That's easily the lowest for a home opener in FedEx Field history. Previous low, according to @pfref, was 76,512 in 2015
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) September 16, 2018Even in the lower bowl, it was hard to find a section that looked truly full. We scoured social media for any angle of the upper levels that looked populated and came up...well, empty.
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Here's what media members saw and said from the press box:
#Colts fans cheers as Luck hits on 7-yard TD pass on first drive on #Redskins defense. Empty seats everywhere. pic.twitter.com/t7zO3O1znh
— thom loverro (@thomloverro) September 16, 2018Here's a crowd shot taken seconds ago. pic.twitter.com/klGjdPGgUi
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) September 16, 2018Stands are so empty at Colts-Redskins. pic.twitter.com/G2IiuvKfDH
— Howard Fendrich (@HowardFendrich) September 16, 2018The Redskins plan to keep cheap seats off the market has left one end zone about 90 percent empty and the upper deck pretty sparse. Better try a Plan B next week.
— Rick Snider (@Snide_Remarks) September 16, 2018Fans who attended the game were a bit more blunt:
It's the home opener, tons of empty seats, and the stadium looks like it's owned by a 'Slumlord'...I guess what you put in is what you get out.#httr #Redskins pic.twitter.com/rsK5CjLtzr
— Joe Johnson (@JoeJohnsonDC) September 16, 2018I’ve been going to @Redskins games since 1988. It’s sad to see how Dan Snyder has destroyed the franchise. Half empty home opener! #HTTR #NFL pic.twitter.com/IdnL9OhWFR
— Keith Zakheim (@czakheim) September 16, 2018#redskins fans where y’all at? Stadium mostly empty! #HTTR pic.twitter.com/CcCQRZuAPN
— Michelle-- (@mrsjones1179) September 16, 2018Even fans watching at home could see the sparse game day population of FedEcField:
Look how empty this @Redskins stadium is !! This is awful pic.twitter.com/ry2iPSZ14Q
— Phillip Graham (@Hornetssuperfan) September 16, 2018Low attendance is a problem across the NFL and among all professional sports and entertainment. There have never been more options for entertainment dollars. The at-home experience has never been better.
That's why the Redskins invested in stadium upgrades this season and began marketing single-game tickets in addition to season tickets.
The Redskins even sent COO Brian Lafemina to the 106.7 The Fan studios this week to talk up the game day experience. It was the first time that a marketing executive of his title had ever appeared on our airwaves, and he peddled the team's discounts for ticket plans, better fan experience and more. Apparently, it wasn't enough.
Longtime D.C. sportswriter and Fan columnist Rick Snider offered his own take in the aftermath of the interview.
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"It's not about anything other than the won/loss record – period," Snider wrote. "The Redskins are 84-83-1 in regular-season games at FedEx.
"The Redskins need to win. Show up in January more than occasionally. Find a way to recapture past glory under coach Joe Gibbs and become the next dynasty. Otherwise, cheap hot dogs won't taste any better in a fancy new stadium, either."
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