Though the NFL was able to put on a successful 2020 season despite the coronavirus running rampant, teams still lost a lot of revenue in the past year. Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, confirmed this deficit.
Via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the Patriots boss also shared the grim reality the league and its players are facing heading into the 2021 campaign.
Robert Kraft also confirmed that the NFL lost about $4 billion in revenue last year, or about $125 million per team. Players got full salaries in 2020, now will take the hit in 2021
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) March 31, 2021
With fans no longer filling up the stands of stadiums that undoubtedly cost a lot to maintain, time will tell how much players' salaries will be affected, as well as teams' abilities to acquire new players in the offseason–not only the Patriots.
The CBS News Team also reported that contract negotiations will test the relationship between owners and the players' union. New York Giant's co-owner John Mara gave his two cents on the $4 billion dollar loss, though, sharing a more optimistic perspective on the situation.
“It was a huge financial hit for us this year, no question about it,” he said. “But it's not going to affect our ability to be active in free agency or to do what we have to do to improve the team. Hopefully this is a one-year thing and we'll be able to have fans back in the building next season.”
NFL players have mentioned apparent differences when playing in an empty stadium, the main one being the absence of the fans' energy and spirit that has a big role in gaining momentum for teams. Now, with their salary potentially being restructured, players will have to face one more obstacle this upcoming season.
Along with Robert Kraft and Patriots, other players and teams can only hope that things return back to normal soon after COVID-19 left its mark on the NFL.
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