Canadian Football League attendance

Canadian Football League attendance has averaged no fewer than 20,000 spectators per game for every season since 1963. The CFL consistently draws, on average, the third or fourth largest crowds to its games of any professional sports league in North America, ranking behind the National Football League and Major League Baseball, about on par with Liga MX and ahead of Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and the National Lacrosse League.

To date, a CFL game has drawn in excess of 50,000 spectators 111 times. It happened for the first six times in 1976, when Toronto's Exhibition Stadium was renovated to accommodate the Toronto Blue Jays, and its capacity was enlarged to become the first CFL stadium capable of holding such a large crowd. Later that same season, the Montreal Alouettes moved into Olympic Stadium, following the 1976 Summer Olympics. Large stadiums were constructed soon afterward for the Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, CFL attendance peaked at about 30,000 fans per game.

During the 1980s and 1990s, CFL attendance declined sharply, reaching its nadir by the mid-1990s due in large part to the league's unsuccessful attempt to expand to the United States. Since start of the 21st century, CFL attendance has stabilized. During the current decade, new stadiums have been constructed for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Ottawa Redblacks and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, all with modern amenities and capacities of between one quarter and one half the capacity of an average NFL stadium. A new stadium is under construction to house the Saskatchewan Roughriders while BMO Field in Toronto, originally built for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, is being renovated to accommodate the Toronto Argonauts. Existing stadiums, most notably Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton and BC Place in Vancouver, have undergone major upgrades.

During the 2010s, CFL attendance has consistently exceeded 25,000 fans per game. An average of 25,286 fans watched CFL games in 2014. CFL attendance has been depressed during the middle of the current decade by short-term issues, most notably the lack of stadium availability in Toronto and Hamilton. By 2018, attendances in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver were consistently below 20,000 fans, prompting long-term concerns in those markets.[1]

Top single-game attendance marks

Below is a list of all Canadian Football League games reported to have been attended by 60,000 or more spectators.

Rank Date Result City Stadium Attendance Note
1.Tue 09/06/77Toronto 20 @ Montreal 14MontrealOlympic Stadium69,093
2.Sun 09/26/76Ottawa 2 @ Montreal 23MontrealOlympic Stadium68,505[2]
3.Sun 11/27/77Montreal 41 vs. Edmonton 6MontrealOlympic Stadium68,318[3]Grey Cup
4.Tue 08/23/77Ottawa 20 @ Montreal 27MontrealOlympic Stadium66,544
5.Sun 11/23/08Calgary 22 vs. Montreal 14MontrealOlympic Stadium66,308[4]Grey Cup
6.Sun 11/25/01Calgary 27 vs. Winnipeg 19MontrealOlympic Stadium65,255[5]Grey Cup
7.Tue 08/22/78B.C. 26 @ Montreal 30MontrealOlympic Stadium65,132
8.Sun 11/25/79Edmonton 17 vs. Montreal 9MontrealOlympic Stadium65,113[6]Grey Cup
9.Thu 08/11/77Winnipeg 10 @ Montreal 27MontrealOlympic Stadium63,330
10.Sun 11/28/10Montreal 21 vs. Saskatchewan 18EdmontonCommonwealth Stadium63,317[7]Grey Cup
11.Sun 10/02/77Toronto 18 @ Montreal 6MontrealOlympic Stadium62,832
12.Sun 11/24/02Montreal 25 vs. Edmonton 16EdmontonCommonwealth Stadium62,531Grey Cup
13.Sat 09/26/09Saskatchewan 23 @ Edmonton 20EdmontonCommonwealth Stadium62,517[8]
14.Fri 09/05/03Calgary 0 @ Edmonton 38EdmontonCommonwealth Stadium62,444[9]
15.Tue 09/05/78Ottawa 23 @ Montreal 18MontrealOlympic Stadium62,197
16.Sat 10/22/77Ottawa 16 @ Montreal 28MontrealOlympic Stadium62,157
17.Sat 11/06/76Ottawa 17 @ Montreal 26MontrealOlympic Stadium61,950
18.Fri 09/06/02Calgary 11 @ Edmonton 45EdmontonCommonwealth Stadium61,481[10]
19.Sun 11/16/97Toronto 47 vs. Saskatchewan 23EdmontonCommonwealth Stadium60,431Grey Cup
20.Sun 11/18/84Winnipeg 47 vs. Hamilton 17EdmontonCommonwealth Stadium60,081Grey Cup
21.Sun 11/09/03Toronto 26 @ Montreal 30MontrealOlympic Stadium60,007[11]Eastern Final

[12]

League Records

Single Game Records
Type of game Attendance Date City Stadium Result
Pre-season53,472Thu 06/23/83VancouverB.C. PlaceCalgary 19 @ B.C. 41
Regular season69,093Tue 09/06/77MontrealOlympic StadiumToronto 20 @ Montreal 14
Eastern Semi-Final37,835[13]Fri 11/05/04TorontoSkyDomeHamilton 6 @ Toronto 24
Western Semi-Final40,381Sat 11/15/86VancouverB.C. PlaceWinnipeg 14 @ B.C 21
Eastern Final60,007Sun 11/09/03MontrealOlympic StadiumToronto 26 @ Montreal 30
Western Final59,478Sun 11/17/85VancouverB.C. PlaceWinnipeg 22 @ B.C. 42
Grey Cup68,318Sun 11/27/77MontrealOlympic StadiumMontreal 41 vs. Edmonton 6

Season Records
Type of Record Attendance Team Year Stadium Games
Team Total—Regular Season476,201[14]Montreal Alouettes1977Olympic Stadium8
Team Total—Regular Season and Playoffs531,601Montreal Alouettes1977Olympic Stadium9
Team Average—Regular Season59,525Montreal Alouettes1977Olympic Stadium8
Team Average—Regular Season and Playoffs59,067Montreal Alouettes1977Olympic Stadium9
League Total—Regular Season2,303,365[15]-2005-81
League Total—Regular Season and Playoffs
League Average—Regular Season31,831-1978-72
League Average—Regular Season and Playoffs

Team Records

BC Lions
Type of Record Attendance Date/Year Stadium Result/Games
Pre-season game53,472*Thu 06/23/83B.C. PlaceCalgary 19 @ B.C. 41
Regular season game59,478Fri 10/11/85
Fri 09/19/86		B.C. PlaceWinnipeg 31 @ B.C. 10
Edmonton 32 @ B.C. 3
Playoff game59,478Sun 11/17/85B.C. PlaceWinnipeg 22 @ B.C. 42
Grey Cup game (host)59,621Sun 11/30/86B.C. PlaceHamilton 39 vs. Edmonton 15
Total Attendance-Regular season418,7381986B.C. Place9 games (46,526 avg.)
Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs459,1191986B.C. Place10 games (45,912 avg.)
Average Attendance-Regular season46,5261986B.C. Place9 games (418,738 total)
Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs47,0891983B.C. Place9 games (423,801 total)

Calgary Stampeders
Type of Record Attendance Date/Year Stadium Result/Games
Pre-season game32,649Tue 07/02/91McMahon StadiumEdmonton 21 @ Calgary 25
Regular season game45,010Sun 10/29/00McMahon StadiumMontreal 31 @ Calgary 32
Playoff game35,650Sun 11/05/06
Sat 11/15/08
Sun 11/21/10		McMahon StadiumSaskatchewan 30 @ Calgary 21
B.C. 18 @ Calgary 22
Saskatchewan 20 @ Calgary 16
Grey Cup game (host)50,035Sun 11/28/93McMahon StadiumEdmonton 33 vs. Winnipeg 23
Total Attendance-Regular season328,5162009McMahon Stadium9 games (36,502 avg.)
Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs359,8722009McMahon Stadium10 games (35,987 avg.)
Average Attendance-Regular season36,5022009McMahon Stadium9 games (328,516 total)
Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs35,9872009McMahon Stadium10 games (359,872 total)

Edmonton Elks/ Edmonton Eskimos
Type of Record Attendance Date/Year Stadium Result/Games
Pre-season game49,723Fri 06/25/82Commonwealth StadiumCalgary 23 @ Edmonton 18
Regular season game62,517Sat 09/26/09Commonwealth StadiumSaskatchewan 23 @ Edmonton 20
Playoff game52,709Sun 11/15/81Commonwealth StadiumB.C. 16 @ Edmonton 22
Grey Cup game (host)63,317Sun 11/28/10Commonwealth StadiumMontreal 21 vs. Saskatchewan 18
Total Attendance-Regular season463,1881982Commonwealth Stadium8 games (57,899 avg.)
Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs514,2991982Commonwealth Stadium9 games (57,144 avg.)
Average Attendance-Regular season57,8991982Commonwealth Stadium8 games (463,188 total)
Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs57,1441982Commonwealth Stadium9 games (514,299 total)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Type of Record Attendance Date/Year Stadium Result/Games
Pre-season game27,585Wed 06/13/12Ivor Wynne StadiumToronto 29 @ Hamilton 24
Regular season game35,394Sun 11/07/76Ivor Wynne StadiumToronto 0 @ Hamilton 18
Playoff game33,392Sun 11/14/71Ivor Wynne StadiumToronto 23 @ Hamilton 8
Grey Cup game (host)38,595Sun 11/24/96Ivor Wynne StadiumToronto 43 vs. Edmonton 37
Total Attendance-Regular season252,0182005Ivor Wynne Stadium9 games (28,002 avg.)
Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs255,6271972Ivor Wynne Stadium8 games (31,953 avg.)
Average Attendance-Regular season32,1291972Ivor Wynne Stadium7 games (224,906 total)
Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs31,9531972Ivor Wynne Stadium8 games (255,627 total)

Ottawa Rough Riders / Renegades / Redblacks
Type of Record Attendance Date/Year Stadium Result/Games
Pre-season game23,252Thu 06/08/17TD Place StadiumHamilton 29 @ Ottawa 30
Regular season game35,342Tue 11/02/75Lansdowne ParkMontreal 6 @ Ottawa 46
Playoff game32,699Sun 11/15/75Lansdowne ParkMontreal 20 @ Ottawa 10
Grey Cup game (host)51,242Sun 11/21/04Frank Clair StadiumToronto 27 vs. BC 19
Total Attendance-Regular season224,6561975Lansdowne Park8 games (28,082 avg.)
Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs257,3551975Lansdowne Park9 games (28,595 avg.)
Average Attendance-Regular season28,0821975Lansdowne Park8 games (224,656 total)
Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs28,5951975Lansdowne Park9 games (257,355 total)


Montreal Alouettes
Type of Record Attendance Date/Year Stadium Result/Games
Pre-season game34,191Tue 07/04/78Olympic StadiumToronto 24 @ Montreal 27
Regular season game69,093*Tue 09/06/77Olympic StadiumToronto 20 @ Montreal 14
Playoff game60,007Sun 11/09/03Olympic StadiumToronto 26 @ Montreal 30
Grey Cup game (host)68,318Sun 11/27/77Olympic StadiumMontreal 41 vs. Edmonton 6
Total Attendance-Regular season476,2011977Olympic Stadium8 games (59,525 avg.)
Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs531,6011977Olympic Stadium9 games (59,067 avg.)
Average Attendance-Regular season59,5251977Olympic Stadium8 games (476,201 total)
Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs59,0671977Olympic Stadium9 games (531,601 total)

Saskatchewan Roughriders
Type of Record Attendance Date/Year Stadium Result/Games
Pre-season game33,350Sat 06/10/17Mosaic StadiumWinnipeg 25 @ Saskatchewan 25
Regular season game55,438Sat 10/14/95Taylor FieldCalgary 20 @ Saskatchewan 25
Playoff game33,300Sun 11/17/19Mosaic StadiumWinnipeg 20 @ Saskatchewan 13
Grey Cup game (host)52,564Sun 11/19/95Taylor FieldBaltimore 37 vs Calgary 20
Total Attendance-Regular season337,5272013Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field9 games (37,503 avg.)
Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs368,4692013Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field10 games (36,847 avg.)
Average Attendance-Regular season37,5032013Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field9 games (337,527 total)
Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs36,8472013Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field10 games (368,469 total)

Toronto Argonauts
Type of Record Attendance Date/Year Stadium Result/Games
Pre-season game39,804Wed 07/07/77Exhibition StadiumOttawa 6 @ Toronto 28
Regular season game52,521Fri 09/10/82Exhibition StadiumHamilton 30 @ Toronto 25
Playoff game54,530Sun 11/20/83Exhibition StadiumHamilton 36 @ Toronto 41
Grey Cup game (host)54,741Sun 11/28/82Exhibition StadiumEdmonton 32 vs. Toronto 16
Total Attendance-Regular season378,8401976Exhibition Stadium8 games (47,355 avg.)
Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs378,8401976Exhibition Stadium8 games (47,355 avg.)
Average Attendance-Regular season47,3551976Exhibition Stadium8 games (378,840 total)
Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs47,3551976Exhibition Stadium8 games (378,840 total)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Type of Record Attendance Date/Year Stadium Result/Games
Pre-season game33,421Wed 07/03/91Winnipeg StadiumOttawa 32 @ Winnipeg 45
Regular season game35,959Sun 09/12/93Winnipeg StadiumSaskatchewan 23 @ Winnipeg 41
Playoff game32,946Sun 11/22/87Winnipeg StadiumToronto 19 @ Winnipeg 3
Grey Cup game (host)51,985Sun 11/24/91Winnipeg StadiumToronto 36 vs. Calgary 21
Total Attendance-Regular season275,7342013Investors Group Field9 games (30,637 avg.)
Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs296,0592011Canad Inns Stadium10 games (29,606 avg.)
Average Attendance-Regular season30,6372013Investors Group Field9 games (275,734 total)
Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs30,6372013Investors Group Field9 games (275,734 total)

CFL attendance vs. other North American professional sports leagues

The following table compares the Canadian Football League regular season average attendance against the regular-season average attendance for the other professional sports leagues in North America with average attendance of at least 10,000 spectators per game.

LeagueSport# TeamsSeasonAverage
attendance		Average vs.
prior season		Total
Attendance		Ref
National Football LeagueAmerican football32201966,648-0.717,061,787[16]
Major League BaseballBaseball30201928,339–1.768,494,752[17]
Liga MXSoccer182018–1922,896-9.73,503,135[18]
Canadian Football LeagueCanadian football9201922,917–3.91,856,263[19]
Major League SoccerSoccer24201921,310-0.038,694,584[20]
National Basketball AssociationBasketball302018-1917,844-0.721,964,447[21]
National Hockey LeagueIce hockey312018-1917,377–0.722,002,081[22]

References
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  10. - 13k -
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  15. Published November 17, 2005. "CFL Sees Numbers Rise At The Gates - SportsBusiness Daily | SportsBusiness Journal | SportsBusiness Daily Global". SportsBusiness Daily. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  16. "NFL Football Attendance". Sports Business Daily. 3 January 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
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  20. MLS Attendance
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