Average Attendance Highlights Successful First Quarter of 2008 Regular Season
March 25, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - With four weeks of on-field play complete, the Arena Football League is experiencing one of its best seasons ever off the field. Average attendance is on record pace, merchandise is flying off the shelves, and viewership on ESPN2 is up.
"We re-emphasized Team Services in the offseason in response to the growing number of teams at or near profitability," says Commissioner DAVID BAKER. "The results of those efforts are evident. Most of our teams are improving their operation and 2008 is already one of the best seasons in AFL history."
ATTENDANCE
- The League is averaging 13,203 fans per game through the first four weeks of its 2008 season, which is its highest four-week cumulative average ever.
YEAR
FOUR-WEEK AVERAGE
2008
13,203
2004
12,764
2005
12,628
2006
12,429
2007
12,249
MERCHANDISE
- In-arena merchandise sales (per caps) are up 43 percent.
VIEWERSHIP
A comparison of the first four Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football telecasts on ESPN2 in 2008 vs. 2007 show:
- Viewers are up 45 percent.
- Households are up 40 percent.
- The coveted male 18-34 demographic is up 50 percent.
- The male 18-49 demographic is up 50 percent.
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