Here is the really devastating thing for the NFL:
A lot of those people you see in the stands today are there because a season ticket holder gave them the ticket because they didn’t want to patronize the traitors, and another bunch bought their tickets second-hand online for less than $10 because it is the first time they have ever been able to afford a football game.
Next season, a lot of those season tickets holders are simply not going to pony up, and non-season ticket sales will require a severe drop in price to get closer to current market pricing and demand.
With fewer people attending, and fewer people watching, the networks are going to lose revenue on their advertising pricing, and they are going to demand a huge price drop in NFL rights the next time the contracts come up. The networks will also spend less money promoting and covering it, starting a downward death spiral.
Several years from now, the NFL will write their own “What Happened?” book when owners start refusing to sign huge player contracts, players revolt even more, and the league turns into the big gridiron version of Arena Football.
Yep, a good gauge is to check prices for tickets on StubHub, that will tell the tale.