Attendance at the Colorado Buffaloes’ spring football games has dropped each year since Deion Sanders became head coach in 2023, raising questions about the program’s current trajectory.
Since Sanders took over, attendance at the team’s annual spring games has decreased from more than 47,000 people in 2023 to roughly 17,500 in 2026. Data collected by College Sports Only show that 47,277 fans attended in 2023 when interest peaked after Sanders joined Colorado. That number fell to 28,424 in 2024 and then to 20,430 in 2025. For this year’s spring game at Folsom Field in Boulder, estimates differ: the University of Colorado reported an official count of 27,772 attendees while Sean Keeler of The Denver Post put attendance between 17,000 and 18,000.
Despite these lower figures compared to previous years under Sanders, current attendance is still much higher than before his arrival; fewer than two thousand fans attended before he became head coach.
Analysts point out that consistent success on the field is important for fan engagement. “There is one proven way to boost interest from fans and students in a football program, and it’s winning games. Sanders will always get attention and grab headlines, but at the end of the day, it’s team success that fans will gravitate toward most,” according to commentary included with the data.
The Buffaloes experienced a successful season in 2024 with nine wins and a bowl invitation but posted a record of just three victories against nine losses during their next campaign as key players Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders departed.
The program faces pressure to improve its performance as it moves forward into upcoming seasons.
