Getty Image
In the aftermath of Damar Hamlin’s terrifying sudden cardiac arrest in an all-important Week 17 game between the Bengals and Bills, the NFL was left with a problem.
How it would handle AFC playoff seeding.
The solution was quickly discovered. The league decided that should there be a situation where Buffalo and the Kansas City Chiefs met in the AFC Championship game, the game would take place at a neutral site.
Typically, the higher seeded team hosts each playoff game until the Super Bowl. But the unparalleled seeding situation caused for an unparalleled solution.
Shortly thereafter, the NFL announced that Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium would host the game if necessary. It made sense, as the Atlanta is about halfway between each city. But then they had to sort out ticketing.
Within 24 hours, season ticket holders for the Bills and Chiefs combined to purchase 50,000 tickets to the would-be game. It’s a remarkable number given the circumstances. Especially since the game may very well never occur.
But there’s one major issue.
Fans Fear NFL May Make All Conference Championship Games Neutral Site
Neutral-site games are a boon for the NFL. The league makes money off the bidding process and owners of struggling teams can rake in extra cash by opening up their stadiums.
But there’s one major problem. Neutral-site games largely stink when it comes to atmosphere. And fans are now worried the NFL won’t look back.
A Chiefs-Bills AFC Championship game would be incredible. The NFL getting to test run a neutral site title game that diminishes the regular season and favors wealthy/corporate fans would not. https://t.co/cOGwYUJOfm
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) January 20, 2023
“It also provides the NFL, conveniently or not, an opportunity to test out a concept which would undoubtedly be profitable for the league at the expense of many loyal fans and home markets,” Yahoo Sports writer Dan Wetzel said in a column.
Fans were quick to shutdown the idea of more neutral-site games.
100% against neutral site games for playoffs – pro and college. Stop pricing out fans. And fans need to stop going. Send a message to these greedy bastards. https://t.co/z9C4Lg85uK
— Ben Whitehead (@thebenwhitehead) January 21, 2023
It's bad imho that the NFL had such an easy time selling tickets to the neutral site AFC Championship game. If NFL can make the championship games neutral site where they know location beforehand, they can build them into mini super bowls and make tons of money. Fans will suffer. https://t.co/BV94WavNgU
— Dave (@TestudoDave) January 21, 2023
This is why I have to root against those teams today. We can’t let this happen. https://t.co/yhHEgZOkne
— Rev. Dave (@davehoffjr) January 21, 2023
Exactly the thoughts I shared when this came out. It will be a downfall for the @NFL https://t.co/pHLXDe6bVm
— Phil Locante (@Prof_Fill) January 21, 2023
Ultimately, neutral-site games make an already inaccessible game experience even more so for the average fan. They’re extremely excepted, neutered affairs that are bad for the average fan.
But the NFL has never cared about that before, why would they start now?