The Salt Lake City Stallions played their first home game in franchise history. If attendance is any indication, it could also be their last.
Marques Pfaff of The Score in Wisconsin tweeted out the following photo of the crowd, politely calling it “sparse but lively.”
A sparse but lively crowd in Salt Lake City for the Stallions opener versus Arizona #SLStallions #AAF #JoinTheAlliance pic.twitter.com/ePKGAiS0x7
— Marques Pfaff (@MarquesPfaff) February 23, 2019
The game was played at Rice-Eccles Stadium, home of the Pac-12’s Utah Utes. The stadium seats 45,807 people, which means that the Stallions fell approximately 45,000 ticket sales shy of a sell out.
The AAF had a great first week, trumpeting solid television and attendance figures. The league has since needed a cash infusion after failing to make payroll in week one.
Mark Chapman — the first overall pick of the 2018 CFL draft — signed with Salt Lake City in September, though he chose not to report to the team for personal reasons.
Former CFL receiver Brian Tyms is currently a member of the Stallions, while Dylan Wynn, Ciante Evans, Stefan Charles, and Terrell Sinkfield have all signed AAF contracts in recent days.
It remains to be seen how the AAF will remain afloat without putting butts in seats — cash infusion or not.
@TheAAF just left a mic open on their broadcast. Quote "nobody's watching, nobody's listening, nobody cares". Oops. pic.twitter.com/o5uofGGMqa
— David Berrisford (@berrisforce) February 23, 2019
