Bengals Preach Patience To Fans As Attendance Reaches All-Time Lows
The "frustration at the Bengals' losing and lack of crowds was evident outside Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday," as only 39,804 fans watched the team's first win of the season against the Jets, the "smallest crowd since Christmas Eve 1995," according to a front-page piece by Scott Wartman of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Scalpers "trying to hawk tickets couldn't give them away," and tickets with a $120 face value were "going for $6 on the street." The Bengals in a statement said that they are "concerned about attendance and urged patience." For the last three seasons, the Bengals have "finished 31st out of 32 teams in attendance." Only the Chargers, who play in the 27,000-seat Dignity Health Sports Park, have "lower home game attendance." However, the low attendance "hasn't really rippled among the business community" in Cincinnati, as fans "filled the bars downtown around the stadium Sunday" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/3).