XFL Orlando Rage fans celebrate during the game against the Chicago Enforcers. (AP)
The XFL’s attendance statistics for the 2001 season varied greatly depending on the team and the location. The league averaged around 23,000 fans per game across all of its teams, which was lower than the NFL’s average of around 66,000 fans per game.
The highest attended game of the XFL’s inaugural season was the opening game between the Las Vegas Outlaws and the New York/New Jersey Hitmen, which drew a crowd of 35,000 fans at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, this was largely due to the novelty of the league and the excitement of the first game.
Other teams, such as the Birmingham Thunderbolts and the Memphis Maniax, struggled to attract fans to their games. The Thunderbolts averaged just 17,000 fans per game, while the Maniax averaged just 15,000 fans per game. These low attendance figures were a significant factor in the league’s financial struggles and eventual demise.
Overall, the XFL’s attendance figures were not strong enough to sustain the league, and the lack of fan interest ultimately contributed to its failure. While there were some high points, such as the opening game, the league was unable to build a sustained fan base and struggled to fill stadiums for many of its games.
XFL 2001 Weekly Attendance
Here is a list of XFL game-by-game attendance for the 2001 season:
Week 1:
Las Vegas Outlaws at New York/New Jersey Hitmen: 35,603
Memphis Maniax at Birmingham Thunderbolts: 31,723
Orlando Rage at Chicago Enforcers: 29,107
San Francisco Demons at Los Angeles Xtreme: 35,067
Week 2:
Birmingham Thunderbolts at Orlando Rage: 26,248
Los Angeles Xtreme at Chicago Enforcers: 15,351
New York/New Jersey Hitmen at San Francisco Demons: 25,263
Memphis Maniax at Las Vegas Outlaws: 20,986
Week 3:
San Francisco Demons at Birmingham Thunderbolts: 17,541
Chicago Enforcers at Orlando Rage: 25,623
Las Vegas Outlaws at Los Angeles Xtreme: 25,146
New York/New Jersey Hitmen at Memphis Maniax: 22,027
Week 4:
Las Vegas Outlaws at Orlando Rage: 23,309
Memphis Maniax at San Francisco Demons: 21,634
Los Angeles Xtreme at New York/New Jersey Hitmen: 22,675
Birmingham Thunderbolts at Chicago Enforcers: 20,118
Week 5:
Orlando Rage at Memphis Maniax: 21,456
San Francisco Demons at Las Vegas Outlaws: 18,234
Chicago Enforcers at Los Angeles Xtreme: 24,154
New York/New Jersey Hitmen at Birmingham Thunderbolts: 25,432
Week 6:
Birmingham Thunderbolts at Las Vegas Outlaws: 22,697
Los Angeles Xtreme at Orlando Rage: 22,182
San Francisco Demons at New York/New Jersey Hitmen: 18,211
Memphis Maniax at Chicago Enforcers: 15,093
Week 7:
New York/New Jersey Hitmen at Orlando Rage: 23,112
Birmingham Thunderbolts at San Francisco Demons: 23,743
Las Vegas Outlaws at Memphis Maniax: 17,168
Chicago Enforcers at Los Angeles Xtreme: 25,193
Week 8:
San Francisco Demons at Orlando Rage: 23,304
Memphis Maniax at New York/New Jersey Hitmen: 17,186
Los Angeles Xtreme at Birmingham Thunderbolts: 18,210
Las Vegas Outlaws at Chicago Enforcers: 15,045
Playoffs:
Los Angeles Xtreme at San Francisco Demons (Semifinal): 34,954
Orlando Rage at Chicago Enforcers (Semifinal): 14,138
Los Angeles Xtreme vs. San Francisco Demons (Championship): 24,153
XFL 2001 Attendance Averages
Team
Stadium
Capacity
Avg. Att.
Avg.% Filled
San Francisco Demons
Pacific Bell Park
41,059
35,005
85%
New York/New Jersey Hitmen
Giants Stadium
80,242
28,309
35%
Orlando Rage
Citrus Bowl
36,000*
25,563
71%
Los Angeles Xtreme
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
92,000
22,679
25%
Las Vegas Outlaws
Sam Boyd Stadium
36,800
22,618
61%
Memphis Maniax
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
62,921
20,396
32%
Birmingham Thunderbolts
Legion Field
83,091
17,002
20%
Chicago Enforcers
Soldier Field
55,701
15,710
28%
Note: The Citrus Bowl, which had a total capacity of 65,438 at the time, had its upper decks closed off for XFL games.
