According to SportsBusiness Journal, league officials are predicting the league’s lowest average attendance since 1998.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said there is "still a lot of uncertainty in fans' minds that is reflected in their willingness to commit to season tickets."
"We're having to work harder and spend more resources to get our fans to engage," he added.
The "sluggish economy" is a big reason fans are staying home from NFL games, but millions of fans "also realise it's more comfortable and convenient to watch from their homes," said NFL reporter Sam Farmer of the LA Times.
Fox, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network all had their most-watched NFL regular-season games in 2009, and CBS had its best season since 1993.
