HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 04: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans reacts in the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Texans are working to get a decent amount of fans in the stands later this year.
Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season provided an odd sight around the league. A team like the Kansas City Chiefs had an attendance usually reserved for a small college game. Then there was the Denver Broncos, who allowed limited friends and family in attendance.
Some stadiums had no fans at all as Week 1 provided a trial run. The Houston Texans saw the fans in Kansas City and are reportedly looking to copy the Chiefs’ plan later this season. That plan just isn’t solely up to the team.
Texans working with local officials on a plan
The Texans are home this Sunday to take on the Baltimore Ravens. There will not be fans at NRG Stadium for that clash. The team then heads to Pittsburgh in Week 3 before returning home in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings. That gives the team and local officials just over two weeks to formulate a plan.
It appears there are fans out there who will show up if allowed, as seen around the league, so the Texans should not have a hard time selling the tickets. Local officials will just want to make sure the plan is safe and doesn’t risk a massive spread of COVID-19.
Teams without fans didn’t seem to be at too much of a disadvantage in Week 1. A team like the New Orleans Saints, that usually relies on a deafening performance from fans in the Superdome, easily took down Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Los Angeles Rams also picked up a win in their empty new stadium.
But that extra revenue is nice and the Texans may be starting a trend of pushing for limited capacity around the league. The only downside is Bill O’Brien will have to hear the boos if he keeps making mind-boggling decisions.