# Canadian Football League attendance

Canadian Football League attendance has averaged over 20,000 spectators per game in every season since 1963. The CFL consistently draws, on average, the third largest crowds to its games of any professional sports league in North America, ranking behind the National Football League and Major League Baseball, and ahead of the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, and National Lacrosse League.
To date, a CFL game has drawn in excess of 50,000 spectators 111 times. It happened for the first six times in 1976, when Toronto's Exhibition Stadium was renovated to accommodate the Toronto Blue Jays, and its capacity was enlarged to become the first CFL stadium capable of holding such a large crowd. Later that same season, the Montreal Alouettes moved into Olympic Stadium, following the 1976 Summer Olympics. Large stadiums were constructed soon afterward for the Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, CFL attendance peaked at about 30,000 fans per game.
During the 1980s and 1990s, CFL attendance declined sharply, reaching its nadir by the mid-1990s due in large part to the league's unsuccessful attempt to expand to the United States. Since start of the 21st century, CFL attendance has stabilized. During the current decade, new stadiums have been constructed for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Ottawa Redblacks, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, all with modern amenities and capacities of between one quarter and one half the capacity of an average NFL stadium. A new stadium is under construction to house the Saskatchewan Roughriders while BMO Field in Toronto, originally built for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, is being renovated to accommodate the Toronto Argonauts. Existing stadiums, most notably Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton and BC Place in Vancouver, have undergone major upgrades.
During the 2010s, CFL attendance has consistently exceeded 25,000 fans per game. An average of 25,286 fans watched CFL games in 2014. CFL attendance has been depressed during the middle of the 2010s by short-term issues, most notably the lack of stadium availability in Toronto and Hamilton. By 2018, attendances in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver were consistently below 20,000 fans, prompting long-term concerns in those markets.

## Top single-game attendance marks

Below is a list of all Canadian Football League games reported to have been attended by 60,000 or more spectators.
| Rank | Date | Result | City | Stadium | Attendance | Note |
| 1. | Tue 09/06/77 | Toronto 20 @ Montreal 14 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 69,093 | |
| 2. | Sun 09/26/76 | Ottawa 2 @ Montreal 23 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 68,505 | |
| 3. | Sun 11/27/77 | Montreal 41 vs. Edmonton 6 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 68,318 | Grey Cup |
| 4. | Tue 08/23/77 | Ottawa 20 @ Montreal 27 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 66,544 | |
| 5. | Sun 11/23/08 | Calgary 22 vs. Montreal 14 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 66,308 | Grey Cup |
| 6. | Sun 11/25/01 | Calgary 27 vs. Winnipeg 19 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 65,255 | Grey Cup |
| 7. | Tue 08/22/78 | B.C. 26 @ Montreal 30 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 65,132 | |
| 8. | Sun 11/25/79 | Edmonton 17 vs. Montreal 9 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 65,113 | Grey Cup |
| 9. | Thu 08/11/77 | Winnipeg 10 @ Montreal 27 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 63,330 | |
| 10. | Sun 11/28/10 | Montreal 21 vs. Saskatchewan 18 | Edmonton | Commonwealth Stadium | 63,317 | Grey Cup |
| 11. | Sun 10/02/77 | Toronto 18 @ Montreal 6 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 62,832 | |
| 12. | Sun 11/24/02 | Montreal 25 vs. Edmonton 16 | Edmonton | Commonwealth Stadium | 62,531 | Grey Cup |
| 13. | Sat 09/26/09 | Saskatchewan 23 @ Edmonton 20 | Edmonton | Commonwealth Stadium | 62,517 | |
| 14. | Fri 09/05/03 | Calgary 0 @ Edmonton 38 | Edmonton | Commonwealth Stadium | 62,444 | |
| 15. | Tue 09/05/78 | Ottawa 23 @ Montreal 18 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 62,197 | |
| 16. | Sat 10/22/77 | Ottawa 16 @ Montreal 28 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 62,157 | |
| 17. | Sat 11/06/76 | Ottawa 17 @ Montreal 26 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 61,950 | |
| 18. | Fri 09/06/02 | Calgary 11 @ Edmonton 45 | Edmonton | Commonwealth Stadium | 61,481 | |
| 19. | Sun 11/16/97 | Toronto 47 vs. Saskatchewan 23 | Edmonton | Commonwealth Stadium | 60,431 | Grey Cup |
| 20. | Sun 11/18/84 | Winnipeg 47 vs. Hamilton 17 | Edmonton | Commonwealth Stadium | 60,081 | Grey Cup |
| 21. | Sun 11/09/03 | Toronto 26 @ Montreal 30 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | 60,007 | Eastern Final |

## League Records
### Single Game Records

| Type of game | Attendance | Date | City | Stadium | Result |
| Pre-season | 53,472 | Thu 06/23/83 | Vancouver | B.C. Place | Calgary 19 @ B.C. 41 |
| Regular season | 69,093 | Tue 09/06/77 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | Toronto 20 @ Montreal 14 |
| Eastern Semi-Final | 37,835 | Fri 11/05/04 | Toronto | SkyDome | Hamilton 6 @ Toronto 24 |
| Western Semi-Final | 40,381 | Sat 11/15/86 | Vancouver | B.C. Place | Winnipeg 14 @ B.C 21 |
| Eastern Final | 60,007 | Sun 11/09/03 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | Toronto 26 @ Montreal 30 |
| Western Final | 59,478 | Sun 11/17/85 | Vancouver | B.C. Place | Winnipeg 22 @ B.C. 42 |
| Grey Cup | 68,318 | Sun 11/27/77 | Montreal | Olympic Stadium | Montreal 41 vs. Edmonton 6 |

### Season Records

Team Attendance Records :
| Type of Record | Attendance | Team | Year | Stadium | Games |
| Total—Regular Season | 476,201 | Montreal Alouettes | 1977 | Olympic Stadium | 8 |
| Total—Regular Season and Playoffs | 531,601 | Montreal Alouettes | 1977 | Olympic Stadium | 9 |
| Average—Regular Season | 59,525 | Montreal Alouettes | 1977 | Olympic Stadium | 8 |
| Average—Regular Season and Playoffs | 59,067 | Montreal Alouettes | 1977 | Olympic Stadium | 9 |
League Attendance Records :
| Type of Record | Attendance | Year | Games |
| Total—Regular Season | 2,303,365 | 2005 | 81 |
| Total—Regular Season and Playoffs | | | |
| Average—Regular Season | 31,831 | 1978 | 72 |
| Average—Regular Season and Playoffs | | | |

## Team Records
### BC Lions

| Type of Record | Attendance | Date/Year | Stadium | Result/Games |
| Pre-season game | 53,472* | Thu 06/23/83 | B.C. Place | Calgary 19 @ B.C. 41 |
| Regular season game | 59,478 | Fri 10/11/85 Fri 09/19/86 | B.C. Place | Winnipeg 31 @ B.C. 10 Edmonton 32 @ B.C. 3 |
| Playoff game | 59,478 | Sun 11/17/85 | B.C. Place | Winnipeg 22 @ B.C. 42 |
| Grey Cup game (host) | 59,621 | Sun 11/30/86 | B.C. Place | Hamilton 39 vs. Edmonton 15 |
| Total Attendance-Regular season | 418,738 | 1986 | B.C. Place | 9 games (46,526 avg.) |
| Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 459,119 | 1986 | B.C. Place | 10 games (45,912 avg.) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season | 46,526 | 1986 | B.C. Place | 9 games (418,738 total) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 47,089 | 1983 | B.C. Place | 9 games (423,801 total) |

### Calgary Stampeders

| Type of Record | Attendance | Date/Year | Stadium | Result/Games |
| Pre-season game | 32,649 | Tue 07/02/91 | McMahon Stadium | Edmonton 21 @ Calgary 25 |
| Regular season game | 45,010 | Sun 10/29/00 | McMahon Stadium | Montreal 31 @ Calgary 32 |
| Playoff game | 35,650 | Sun 11/05/06 Sat 11/15/08 Sun 11/21/10 | McMahon Stadium | Saskatchewan 30 @ Calgary 21 B.C. 18 @ Calgary 22 Saskatchewan 20 @ Calgary 16 |
| Grey Cup game (host) | 50,035 | Sun 11/28/93 | McMahon Stadium | Edmonton 33 vs. Winnipeg 23 |
| Total Attendance-Regular season | 328,516 | 2009 | McMahon Stadium | 9 games (36,502 avg.) |
| Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 359,872 | 2009 | McMahon Stadium | 10 games (35,987 avg.) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season | 36,502 | 2009 | McMahon Stadium | 9 games (328,516 total) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 35,987 | 2009 | McMahon Stadium | 10 games (359,872 total) |

### Edmonton Elks/ Edmonton Eskimos

| Type of Record | Attendance | Date/Year | Stadium | Result/Games |
| Pre-season game | 49,723 | Fri 06/25/82 | Commonwealth Stadium | Calgary 23 @ Edmonton 18 |
| Regular season game | 62,517 | Sat 09/26/09 | Commonwealth Stadium | Saskatchewan 23 @ Edmonton 20 |
| Playoff game | 52,709 | Sun 11/15/81 | Commonwealth Stadium | B.C. 16 @ Edmonton 22 |
| Grey Cup game (host) | 63,317 | Sun 11/28/10 | Commonwealth Stadium | Montreal 21 vs. Saskatchewan 18 |
| Total Attendance-Regular season | 463,188 | 1982 | Commonwealth Stadium | 8 games (57,899 avg.) |
| Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 514,299 | 1982 | Commonwealth Stadium | 9 games (57,144 avg.) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season | 57,899 | 1982 | Commonwealth Stadium | 8 games (463,188 total) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 57,144 | 1982 | Commonwealth Stadium | 9 games (514,299 total) |

### Hamilton Tiger-Cats

| Type of Record | Attendance | Date/Year | Stadium | Result/Games |
| Pre-season game | 27,585 | Wed 06/13/12 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Toronto 29 @ Hamilton 24 |
| Regular season game | 35,394 | Sun 11/07/76 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Toronto 0 @ Hamilton 18 |
| Playoff game | 33,392 | Sun 11/14/71 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Toronto 23 @ Hamilton 8 |
| Grey Cup game (host) | 38,595 | Sun 11/24/96 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Toronto 43 vs. Edmonton 37 |
| Total Attendance-Regular season | 252,018 | 2005 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | 9 games (28,002 avg.) |
| Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 255,627 | 1972 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | 8 games (31,953 avg.) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season | 32,129 | 1972 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | 7 games (224,906 total) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 31,953 | 1972 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | 8 games (255,627 total) |

### Ottawa Rough Riders / Renegades / Redblacks

| Type of Record | Attendance | Date/Year | Stadium | Result/Games |
| Pre-season game | 23,252 | Thu 06/08/17 | TD Place Stadium | Hamilton 29 @ Ottawa 30 |
| Regular season game | 35,342 | Tue 11/02/75 | Lansdowne Park | Montreal 6 @ Ottawa 46 |
| Playoff game | 32,699 | Sun 11/15/75 | Lansdowne Park | Montreal 20 @ Ottawa 10 |
| Grey Cup game (host) | 51,242 | Sun 11/21/04 | Frank Clair Stadium | Toronto 27 vs. BC 19 |
| Total Attendance-Regular season | 224,656 | 1975 | Lansdowne Park | 8 games (28,082 avg.) |
| Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 257,355 | 1975 | Lansdowne Park | 9 games (28,595 avg.) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season | 28,082 | 1975 | Lansdowne Park | 8 games (224,656 total) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 28,595 | 1975 | Lansdowne Park | 9 games (257,355 total) |

### Montreal Alouettes

| Type of Record | Attendance | Date/Year | Stadium | Result/Games |
| Pre-season game | 34,191 | Tue 07/04/78 | Olympic Stadium | Toronto 24 @ Montreal 27 |
| Regular season game | 69,093* | Tue 09/06/77 | Olympic Stadium | Toronto 20 @ Montreal 14 |
| Playoff game | 60,007 | Sun 11/09/03 | Olympic Stadium | Toronto 26 @ Montreal 30 |
| Grey Cup game (host) | 68,318 | Sun 11/27/77 | Olympic Stadium | Montreal 41 vs. Edmonton 6 |
| Total Attendance-Regular season | 476,201 | 1977 | Olympic Stadium | 8 games (59,525 avg.) |
| Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 531,601 | 1977 | Olympic Stadium | 9 games (59,067 avg.) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season | 59,525 | 1977 | Olympic Stadium | 8 games (476,201 total) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 59,067 | 1977 | Olympic Stadium | 9 games (531,601 total) |

### Saskatchewan Roughriders

| Type of Record | Attendance | Date/Year | Stadium | Result/Games |
| Pre-season game | 33,350 | Sat 06/10/17 | Mosaic Stadium | Winnipeg 25 @ Saskatchewan 25 |
| Regular season game | 55,438 | Sat 10/14/95 | Taylor Field | Calgary 20 @ Saskatchewan 25 |
| Playoff game | 33,300 | Sun 11/17/19 | Mosaic Stadium | Winnipeg 20 @ Saskatchewan 13 |
| Grey Cup game (host) | 52,564 | Sun 11/19/95 | Taylor Field | Baltimore 37 vs Calgary 20 |
| Total Attendance-Regular season | 337,527 | 2013 | Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field | 9 games (37,503 avg.) |
| Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 368,469 | 2013 | Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field | 10 games (36,847 avg.) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season | 37,503 | 2013 | Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field | 9 games (337,527 total) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 36,847 | 2013 | Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field | 10 games (368,469 total) |

### Toronto Argonauts

| Type of Record | Attendance | Date/Year | Stadium | Result/Games |
| Pre-season game | 39,804 | Wed 07/07/77 | Exhibition Stadium | Ottawa 6 @ Toronto 28 |
| Regular season game | 52,521 | Fri 09/10/82 | Exhibition Stadium | Hamilton 30 @ Toronto 25 |
| Playoff game | 54,530 | Sun 11/20/83 | Exhibition Stadium | Hamilton 36 @ Toronto 41 |
| Grey Cup game (host) | 54,741 | Sun 11/28/82 | Exhibition Stadium | Edmonton 32 vs. Toronto 16 |
| Total Attendance-Regular season | 378,840 | 1976 | Exhibition Stadium | 8 games (47,355 avg.) |
| Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 378,840 | 1976 | Exhibition Stadium | 8 games (47,355 avg.) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season | 47,355 | 1976 | Exhibition Stadium | 8 games (378,840 total) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 47,355 | 1976 | Exhibition Stadium | 8 games (378,840 total) |

### Winnipeg Blue Bombers

| Type of Record | Attendance | Date/Year | Stadium | Result/Games |
| Pre-season game | 33,421 | Wed 07/03/91 | Winnipeg Stadium | Ottawa 32 @ Winnipeg 45 |
| Regular season game | 35,959 | Sun 09/12/93 | Winnipeg Stadium | Saskatchewan 23 @ Winnipeg 41 |
| Playoff game | 32,946 | Sun 11/22/87 | Winnipeg Stadium | Toronto 19 @ Winnipeg 3 |
| Grey Cup game (host) | 51,985 | Sun 11/24/91 | Winnipeg Stadium | Toronto 36 vs. Calgary 21 |
| Total Attendance-Regular season | 280,767 | 2024 | Princess Auto Stadium | 9 games (31,196 avg.) |
| Total Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 313,110 | 2024 | Princess Auto Stadium | 10 games (31,311 avg.) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season | 31,196 | 2024 | Princess Auto Stadium | 9 games (280,767 total) |
| Average Attendance-Regular season and playoffs | 31,311 | 2024 | Princess Auto Stadium | 10 games (313,110 total) |

## CFL attendance vs. other North American professional sports leagues

The following table compares the Canadian Football League regular season average attendance against the regular-season average attendance for the other professional sports leagues in North America with average attendance of at least 10,000 spectators per game.
| League | Sport | # Teams | Season | Average attendance | Average vs. prior season | Total Attendance |
| National Football League | American football | 32 | 2019 | 66,648 | -0.7 | 17,061,787 |
| Major League Baseball | Baseball | 30 | 2019 | 28,339 | –1.7 | 68,494,752 |
| Liga MX | Soccer | 18 | 2018–19 | 22,896 | -9.7 | 3,503,135 |
| Canadian Football League | Canadian football | 9 | 2023 | 22,393 | 3.0 | 1,856,263 |
| Major League Soccer | Soccer | 29 | 2023 | 22,112 | 5.0 | 10,870,325 |
| National Basketball Association | Basketball | 30 | 2018-19 | 17,844 | -0.7 | 21,964,447 |
| National Hockey League | Ice hockey | 31 | 2018-19 | 17,377 | –0.7 | 22,002,081 |

## 2024 CFL attendance

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers drew the highest average home attendance in the 2024 edition of the CFL.
| # | Team | Home games | Total attendance | Average attendance |
| 1 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 9 | 280,491 | 31,165 |
| 2 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | 9 | 249,164 | 27,684 |
| 3 | BC Lions | 9 | 241,947 | 26,883 |
| 4 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 9 | 198,012 | 22,001 |
| 5 | Calgary Stampeders | 9 | 193,869 | 21,541 |
| 6 | Montreal Alouettes | 9 | 191,718 | 21,302 |
| 7 | Edmonton Elks | 9 | 184,494 | 20,499 |
| 8 | Ottawa Redblacks | 9 | 169,323 | 18,813 |
| 9 | Toronto Argonauts | 9 | 136,162 | 15,129 |