Bank of America Institute calls the play: Football fans drive big wins for local economies

According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, consumers spent 25% more on sports attendance in November 2025 than in 2019 — roughly on par with the strength in live entertainment spending last year. The NFL is a key component to this story.

In the 2025 season, the home games of the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, for example, drew 1.1 million spectators. Fans continue to show up in large numbers, underscoring the power of sports not only to bring people together but also to help power the economy.

Beyond the stadium, fans bring spending power to local economies, supporting employment and growth. On NFL game days, in the zip codes where stadiums are located, total credit and debit card spending rises by around 77% on average, according to Bank of America internal data — with the biggest increases in food and drinks, parking and lodging.