50% of NFL Fans Took on Debt or Made Financial Sacrifices for Football

For avid NFL fans, cheering on a favorite team means taking on several recurring expenses throughout the NFL season. These expenses run the gamut from streaming subscriptions, fan merchandise, fantasy football leagues, watch parties, NFL game tickets, parking, purchases inside the stadium, and travel.

A new CardRates.com survey of 1,523 NFL fans across 15 leading NFL markets revealed that half took on debt or made another financial tradeoff to pay for NFL-related expenses last season. Fans reportedly carried credit card balances, used buy now, pay later services, withdrew savings, cut back on necessities, or delayed other bills and purchases.

Many NFL fans say they expect to spend even more during the 2026 season. Among fans who spent money following football last season, 35% said they expect to spend even more this year. And if their favorite team plays in the Super Bowl, 39% said they would finance a trip by carrying a credit card balance and paying interest to attend the big game.

These findings show spending money to cheer on a favorite football team can create financial pressure that lasts beyond game day. They also reveal meaningful differences among generations, levels of fandom, and NFL markets.

Football expenses do not always fit within fans’ budgets, but they spend the money anyway, all in support of the team. Half of the NFL fans we surveyed took on debt or made at least one financial tradeoff because of NFL expenses during the 2025 football season.

Twenty-eight percent of fans surveyed used an explicit form of debt or borrowing to cover their NFL expenses. Fifteen percent used buy now, pay later, 14% carried a credit card balance and paid interest on those purchases, and 5% said they borrowed from friends or family.

Other NFL fans covered football expenses by sacrificing some of their financial priorities. Fifteen percent saved less money than they otherwise would have, 14% withdrew money from savings, and 9% trimmed spending on groceries or other necessities. Still others delayed or missed paying bills or postponed a major purchase, all in support of their favorite football team.

To meet financial demands from NFL expenses, 8% worked additional hours or took on extra work. Three percent of fans hid an NFL-related purchase or its cost from a spouse or partner.

The financial pressure on NFL fans varied based on where they lived and their age. For instance, football fans in Miami had the highest rate of debt or borrowing to cover NFL-related expenses at 48%, with 30% using BNPL, 25% carrying a credit card balance, and 11% borrowing from family or friends.

Younger fans were also more likely to go into debt in support of a favorite football team. Seventy percent of Gen Z football fans took on debt or made another financial tradeoff, compared to 60% of millennials, 48% of Gen X, and 23% of baby boomers. 

The survey did not explore why this debt gap between generations exists, but it does reveal that NFL fans are less willing to go into debt in support of a football team as they grow older.   

“I would never discourage someone from supporting their team! Clearly, tickets to NFL games are expensive, but for many, it’s worth it, including having to work more or borrow for the expense. As long as it doesn’t harm your overall financial picture, you’re safe,” says Erica Sandberg, consumer finance expert at CardRates.com.

Many NFL fans would be willing to go into debt to attend the Super Bowl, with 39% saying they would carry a credit card balance and pay interest. Other fans could not be swayed, with 44% saying they would not carry a credit card balance and pay interest to attend the Super Bowl, and 17% were unsure.

Fans who had borrowed to pay for NFL expenses say they would borrow again to go to the Super Bowl. Seventy-two percent of fans who previously used debt or borrowing for NFL expenses would finance a trip to the Super Bowl, compared with only 26% of fans who did not previously borrow.

There are limits as to how much fans will spend to experience the big game in February. Twenty-one percent of fans would spend at least $2,500 to attend the Super Bowl, 10% would spend at least $5,000, and 4% would spend at least $10,000.

Expenditures Increase With Fan Intensity

Fans were asked to identify themselves as being in one of five fan categories: die-hard fans, big fans, social fans, casual fans, and occasional fans. The willingness for fans to finance a Super Bowl trip increased based on their intensity as fans. 

Sixty-one percent of die-hard fans would finance a trip to the Super Bowl, and so would 38% of big fans. 

Social, casual, and occasional fans were less likely to finance such a trip, with just 26% of social fans, 24% of casual fans, and 16% of occasional fans willing to do so.

Die-hard fans also experienced greater financial exposure during the regular NFL season. Thirty-seven percent of die-hard fans took on debt or borrowed money for NFL expenses, 31% of whom expect to spend at least $500 during the 2026 season, and 66% of these die-hard fans took on debt or made another financial tradeoff last season.

Falcons Fans Are Most Willing to Finance a Trip to the Super Bowl

Atlanta may still be riding high from the 2017 Super Bowl appearance of the Atlanta Falcons. The city had the highest percentage of fans willing to finance a Super Bowl trip. The rest of the cities evaluated are popular sports cities with devoted fans, but no Super Bowl appearances in the past 10 years. 

It is not surprising that 4 in 10 NFL fans would borrow for a Super Bowl trip. But what is surprising is that fans slip into repeat borrowing when it comes to paying for football fan expenses. Indeed, fans who previously used debt for football expenses were much more likely to say they would borrow again.

A Super Bowl appearance by a favorite team may feel like a rare or once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But financing tickets, airfare, lodging, meals, and transportation can leave fans paying for that Super Bowl experience well into next season and beyond.

Fan intensity adds context to the finding. While die-hard fans were more willing to go into debt for football, the concern is not the fan enthusiasm itself but whether that enthusiasm produces interest charges, depleted savings, or displaced household priorities.

Sandberg adds, “Of course, when your team does especially well, you’ll want to cheer them on from the stands. With Super Bowl tickets and the travel involved, you’re looking at thousands of dollars. Plan ahead by saving a portion of your paycheck for this specific purpose. If they make it to that point, great, you’ll have the cash ready to go. If not, you can keep it there for next year.”

Of NFL fans surveyed, 80% said they expect to spend some money following or supporting their favorite team during the 2026 season. Another 21% expect to spend at least $500, while 10% expect to spend at least $1,000, and 3% expect to spend at least $2,500. 

Only 20% of NFL fans do not expect to spend anything while supporting their favorite football team this season.

Among fans who spent money last season, 35% expect to spend even more in 2026. Across the complete sample, including those who did not spend last season, 28% said they expect to spend more.

It is not just a dream Super Bowl trip that NFL fans would be willing to spend their money on or even borrow to attend. Most surveyed fans expect to spend money throughout the regular NFL season, and more than one-third of those fans who spent money last season expect their costs to increase.

Fan spending intentions also create distinct local stories. Miami and Atlanta led in expected regular-season spending, New York and Philadelphia led in increased spending, and Philadelphia and Boston led in potential Super Bowl spending.

The survey measured total expected NFL-related spending. It did not ask respondents to divide that amount among tickets, travel, merchandise, food, fantasy football leagues, streaming, or other categories.

According to Sandberg, there are steps you can take to minimize or avoid debt that too often comes with supporting your favorite NFL team.

1. Let rewards reduce the cost. If your credit card company has a live events shopping portal (Chase, Capital One, and American Express all do) and you can earn rewards with your card, take advantage. For example, if you have a Capital One card that offers 8% cash back for every dollar you spend on their entertainment portal — including NFL tickets — you can get a good discount.

2. Pay off the debt fast. Go into the game with a payment plan of action so you don’t pay too much in fees. Know you’ll be charging $3,000 for the season? Great. If you can make fixed payments of $700, you’ll be out of debt in five months, and the extra interest will be around $170, assuming your card has an APR of 24%. 

3. Consider a 0% APR card. The start of the NFL season may be the perfect opportunity to apply for a credit card that has a 0% introductory APR. If you know that you will be carrying over balances from one month to the next, this will give you at least six months to pay the debt off with no interest applied, though some cards offer up to 18 months or more.

4. Analyze whether NFL-related expenses are really worth the cost. You may be able to get the same sense of community and have a great time by going to establishments where the game is on or by hosting watch parties at your home. Certainly, the food and beverages will be cheaper! 

NFL Football can provide a sense of community, yearslong traditions, and many memorable sporting experiences. But fans should also consider whether their NFL spending will displace savings or necessities, or worse, leave them paying interest long after the season ends.

CardRates.com surveyed 1,523 U.S. adults who regularly or occasionally follow or support an NFL team. The survey was conducted from September 10 to 14, 2026.

Respondents were recruited across 15 designated media markets: Atlanta, Boston–Manchester, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland–Akron–Canton, Dallas–Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay–Appleton, Kansas City, Miami–Fort Lauderdale, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Seattle–Tacoma. Each market included between 100 and 106 respondents.

Results are based on raw, unweighted responses. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding, and respondents could select multiple answers for certain questions. The theoretical margin of error is approximately ±2.5 percentage points for the overall sample and approximately ±9.8 percentage points for each market at the 95% confidence level.

Because each market contributed approximately the same number of respondents, the combined findings reflect the 15 surveyed markets equally and are not weighted to represent the national distribution of NFL fans.

For media inquiries, please contact catherine@cardrates.com.